NIL
Peace between Israel and Syria is possible, Damascus businessman tells 'Post'
Yahya Kirdi, a Syrian businessman and owner of several sports clubs, lays down his vision for the prospects of a new Syrian-Israeli peace. Syrian-born businessman Yahya Kirdi envisions a future where Syria and Israel can coexist peacefully despite decades of hostility. In an extensive interview, he shared his background, thoughts on Syria’s political landscape, and […]
Yahya Kirdi, a Syrian businessman and owner of several sports clubs, lays down his vision for the prospects of a new Syrian-Israeli peace.
Syrian-born businessman Yahya Kirdi envisions a future where Syria and Israel can coexist peacefully despite decades of hostility. In an extensive interview, he shared his background, thoughts on Syria’s political landscape, and aspirations for regional peace.
Born in Aleppo, Syria, to parents of Turkish descent from Kilis, Kirdi’s identity straddles some of the multiple cultures that are Syria’s hallmark. After being stripped of his Syrian citizenship by the Assad regime, he now holds Canadian citizenship and has built a successful business career.
“I own soccer clubs in Europe and Dubai, as well as companies specializing in sports marketing and petroleum trade,” Kirdi explained. His professional background includes being a former professional soccer player and working with UNICEF in 2009.
When asked about his willingness to speak with Israeli media, Kirdi expressed no reservations. “Israeli media are advanced, developed, and free, pursuing truth regardless of where it leads,” he stated. “This presents an opportunity to convey my voice and that of Syrians to the Israeli and Jewish people – that we desire to live peacefully alongside our Jewish neighbors.”
Kirdi rejected the notion that Arab populations are inherently hostile toward Israel, characterizing this as “a deception perpetuated by Arab rulers to prevent their people from seeing the truth.”
When prompted to describe the reasons for the fall of the Assad regime in his view, Kirdi spoke frankly about what he sees as the geopolitical realities behind recent developments.
“The collapse of [Bashar al-]Assad was essentially a convergence of American, Turkish, and Russian interests,” he commented. “To be realistic, the fall involved surrendering territories without fighting. Additionally, Israeli strikes against Hezbollah and the withdrawal of Iranian militias played a crucial role in bringing down Assad’s regime.”
Kirdi expressed concern about the rise of Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration in parts of Syria. “A man unknown to Syrians before, yet on terrorist watch lists and wanted by international justice, who pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda leaders Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden,” Kirdi said with evident frustration, questioning the international community’s relative silence about Sharaa’s rise to power despite his connections to ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
“His current rule is totalitarian and sectarian, knowing only the language of bloodshed,” Kirdi asserted about the new Syrian leader. “We should understand that changing Afghan-style clothing doesn’t mean changing the ideology within al-Sharaa himself.”
The Islamists backing Sharaa’s admin.
The businessman criticized Sharaa’s administration for relying on non-Syrian, hardline Islamists, including “elements from Hamas and Islamic Jihad among his fighters, as well as militants from Chechnya, Uzbekistan, Uyghurs, Egyptians, Moroccans, Tunisians, Algerians, and Libyans.”
Kirdi questioned whether such a diverse array of foreign fighters could truly represent Syrian interests.
“This is an Islamic jihadist movement with no connection to Syrian identity,” he argued. “We rose against Assad senior and then Assad junior and sacrificed our lives. There are thousands of honorable military personnel who defected from Assad’s regime and paid a heavy price – they are now marginalized under a one-color totalitarian rule that gives no space for others to participate in political life.”
The businessman emphasized that Sharaa’s rule fails to respect Syria’s diverse fabric, which includes “Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Armenians, Druze, Circassians, Kurds, and Syrian Turkmen.”
He characterized the new Syrian leader’s inclusive gestures as “merely theatrical performances for global media,” while the reality remains “a totalitarian Islamic rule – an extremist Islamic emirate relying on non-Syrians for governance.”
Kirdi revealed he had filed complaints against the UN secretary-general and UN envoys to Syria Geir Pedersen and his predecessor Staffan de Mistura, accusing them of corruption and collusion with certain Syrian opposition members. He also mentioned he is promoting legal action against Bashar Assad and “4,000 members of Assad’s gang” through Canadian courts, with the case reportedly transferred to the International Court of Justice.
The Syrian-Canadian businessman also referred to the role of Qatar as a mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts, particularly after October 7. Kirdi expressed skepticism. “My point of view, which I shared with close friends in the US and Canada, was that Israel should be careful, very careful. Because first, Qatar relies on information from people who are not Qataris. It has Palestinian, Arab, European, and even American political advisers. Even media professionals who hold Israeli citizenship through media outlets it [Qatar] owns. This is clear to everyone. How can this be a mediator and a judge at the same time? With all due respect to the Qataris, you cannot succeed with this mediation, because it will not be fair. Qatar succeeded in moving the World Cup it hosted from June in the summer to winter, but it failed in the negotiations on the Hamas and Israelis case.”
Kirdi suggested Canada would be a more suitable mediator than Qatar, claiming the war might have ended sooner with different facilitation.
“I, personally, have a solution and plan to stop the war that would benefit all parties and end the conflict in Gaza – a very suitable solution for the Israelis and Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, which friends in Israel appreciated,” he claimed, without providing further information.
When discussing the future political landscape of Syria, Kirdi advocated against federalization or division into multiple states.
“We are deeply concerned that the current policies pursued by authorities may lead to partition, which benefits no one, neither internally nor externally. Partition or federalism would make Syria available to extremists and radicals who threaten regional security,” he warned.
Instead, Kirdi envisioned “a single Syrian state led by an authority built on modern foundations, where businessmen contribute significantly to reconstruction and improving the economy.”
He stressed the need for “wise leaders who understand the people’s interests and how to protect them, who are aware of international conditions and work diligently with others to prepare Syria and the region for peace.”On the possibility of peace between Syria and Israel, Kirdi was optimistic.
“Yes, we believe peace is possible and see that the Syrian people are ready for a peace process with Israel,” he stated. “We don’t believe that the long-term incitement carried out by the regime has established eternal hatred. The people have become rational and aware, knowing their interest lies in peace, provided there is a reasonable leadership capable of securing Syrians’ rights diplomatically, and Israeli cooperation with the idea of peace that guarantees people’s peace, not regimes’ peace.”
Kirdi highlighted the potential role of business leaders in fostering peace.
“We believe that businessmen can play a major role in this, and historical experience has proven that the best to lead peace are sincere businessmen surrounded by a rational group of politicians and thinkers,” he said. “We hope to have a role in peace because this serves Syrians and all peoples of the region.”
Regarding his own political future in Syria, Kirdi distanced himself from the current administration, despite rumors of being offered a high-ranking position.
“We don’t see a political role for ourselves under an authority that seeks to entrench dictatorship, and we don’t accept holding a position in such an atmosphere. We want a civil, democratic state,” he affirmed. He would participate only when the system genuinely serves Syrian society and fulfills its aspirations, he indicated.
On the Kurdish question in Syria, Kirdi acknowledged strong fraternal relations between his community and Kurdish Syrians but expressed concern about certain Kurdish political factions.
“Everyone knows our relationship with the Kurdish component is fraternal, with unbreakable ties between us, having lived side by side in this region,” he said. “However, the problem is that there are Kurdish political parties that want to carve out a part of Syrian territory and attach it to separatist projects that threaten Syria’s national security and the security of our neighbor Turkey and other neighboring countries.”
On regional dynamics, Kirdi referred to Turkey’s significant influence in Syria.
“Turkey has a tremendous ability to influence Syria, exceeding any neighboring country,” he said, citing shared borders, social interconnections, and history. “I cannot imagine a solution and stability in Syria without reaching an understanding with Turkey. We must address their concerns and accept their soft contribution to reconstruction and stability, but also stand against any hegemonic tendencies.”
Perhaps most striking were Kirdi’s views on peace with Israel. “Peace has always been possible if it were from people to people,” he asserted. “There is no enmity between Syrians and Jews; the dispute between the Syrian state and Israel concerns the Golan Heights, which can be managed through dialogue.”
He characterized the current moment as a “historic opportunity” for peace between the two peoples, contingent upon Israel’s willingness and international support for developing a moderate, democratic civil authority in Syria.Kirdi highlighted the role of business leaders in fostering peace.
“You cannot talk about the triumph of democracy without a free economic system,” he stated, emphasizing that economic development would be decisive in gaining popular support and shaping politics.”
Kirdi spoke warmly about Syria’s cultural heritage and openness. “The Syrian people are simple and kind. They love others, love goodness, love work, and hate wars,” he said. “In all Syrian cities, from Latakia to Aleppo to Damascus to Deir el-Zor to Raqqa to Hasakah, we have neighborhoods and streets named after Jewish quarters. Jews were our neighbors.”
His message to readers emphasized the Syrian people’s exhaustion with both authoritarianism and war.“Trust the Syrians, for they are the children of ancient civilizations. They are not extremists and are open to all cultures of peoples who seek peace,” Kirdi concluded.
NIL
Kirby Smart ignites NIL firestorm with bold claim as college football talent war escalates for top recruits
The NIL Debate: Kirby Smart’s Stance Shakes the College Football Landscape In the ever-evolving world of college football, where talent acquisition is as much about skill on the field as it is about the financial allure off it, Kirby Smart, the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, recently made waves with a candid expression of […]
The NIL Debate: Kirby Smart’s Stance Shakes the College Football Landscape
In the ever-evolving world of college football, where talent acquisition is as much about skill on the field as it is about the financial allure off it, Kirby Smart, the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, recently made waves with a candid expression of his views on the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies. His forthright statement, “I don’t want a freshman coming in and making more than a senior,” has ignited a significant discussion across the sports community, reflecting the complexities and challenges that NIL has introduced into college athletics.
A New Era in College Sports
The introduction of NIL rights marked a revolutionary shift in college sports, allowing athletes to profit from their personal brand for the first time. This change has not only opened doors for student-athletes to leverage their fame but has also introduced a new dynamic into the recruitment process, where financial considerations can weigh as heavily as athletic ones.
Kirby Smart’s Perspective
Smart’s comment underscores a growing concern among coaches: the potential for NIL deals to disrupt team dynamics and the traditional meritocracy of college sports. The essence of his argument lies in the fear that financial incentives could overshadow the hard-earned progress and seniority within a team, potentially leading to discord and a shift in focus from team achievements to individual gains.
The Ripple Effect
The reaction to Smart’s stance has been widespread, sparking debates on the fairness of NIL policies and their impact on the collegiate sports ecosystem. Critics argue that the ability for freshmen to earn more than their senior teammates through NIL deals could create inequalities and tensions within teams, challenging the cohesion and unity that are foundational to sports. On the other hand, proponents of NIL rights see this as a necessary evolution, aligning college sports more closely with professional leagues where talent and marketability dictate earnings.
Navigating Uncharted Waters
As the NIL landscape continues to evolve, coaches like Smart find themselves navigating a delicate balance. They must adapt to the new rules of engagement in recruiting, where financial incentives are increasingly influential, while also maintaining the integrity and competitive spirit of their teams. This challenge is not unique to Georgia but is a microcosm of the broader adjustments facing institutions across the NCAA.
Looking Ahead
Kirby Smart’s comments are a reflection of the broader dialogue surrounding NIL and its impact on college sports. As the dust settles on this latest controversy, it’s clear that the conversation is far from over. The integration of NIL into college athletics will continue to challenge traditional norms and require all stakeholders to adapt to a new reality where the lines between amateurism and professionalism are increasingly blurred.
In this new era, the ability of coaches, players, and institutions to navigate the complexities of NIL will be crucial in shaping the future of college sports. As we move forward, the hope is that a balance can be struck that preserves the integrity of collegiate competition while embracing the opportunities that NIL offers to student-athletes. Kirby Smart’s candid take on the issue may have stirred the pot, but it also serves as a vital part of the ongoing conversation about how to best integrate these new opportunities into the fabric of college sports.
NIL
What the Ohio State football program’s new NIL budget could be this year
The Ohio State football team spent around $20 million in NIL money last season. Michigan fans kept making jokes about it being the best team money can buy. While the NIL money certainly helped, it wasn’t the sole reason why they ended up winning the national championship. Ohio State spent money in the right places […]
The Ohio State football team spent around $20 million in NIL money last season. Michigan fans kept making jokes about it being the best team money can buy. While the NIL money certainly helped, it wasn’t the sole reason why they ended up winning the national championship.
Ohio State spent money in the right places at the right spots. That is what helped the team come together in a way that allowed them to win their first national title since 2014. Now the Buckeyes have increased their budget because that’s the way the sport is headed.
People fail to remember that the Buckeyes didn’t even spend the most NIL money last season. Both Texas and Oregon spent more money on their rosters than the Ohio State Buckeyes did. What might their NIL budget be this season, coming off a national title?
What the Ohio State football team’s NIL budget might be this season
The Buckeyes are likely going to increase their spending a bit from last season, despite the fact that the athletic department was severely in debt last year. The NIL funds come via the collectives that have partnerships with the university, so the Buckeyes can up their spending.
Expect Ohio State to spend anywhere from $22-$25 million this year. That includes players for the current roster and recruits for the 2026 class. That is a slight bump up from where they were a year ago, but spending is likely to increase every year until an NIL cap is put in by the NCAA.
When the House settlement is ultimately approved, that might change how much money the Buckeyes spend on their roster. That’s when we might see spending start to go down. When they are able to get players like Jeremiah Smith, they’ll keep feeding money to the roster, because that’s what wins championships now.
NIL
Scores, TV schedule for quarterfinal
3 scariest SEC baseball teams to face in the 2025 conference tournament The Montgomery Advertiser’s Adam Cole breaks down why Auburn, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are the toughest teams to play in the 2025 SEC baseball tournament. For college baseball fans, the SEC baseball tournament could serve as a preview of the future national champion crowned […]
3 scariest SEC baseball teams to face in the 2025 conference tournament
The Montgomery Advertiser’s Adam Cole breaks down why Auburn, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are the toughest teams to play in the 2025 SEC baseball tournament.
For college baseball fans, the SEC baseball tournament could serve as a preview of the future national champion crowned in June.
Each of the last five national champions has come from the SEC, and Thursday’s quarterfinal action provides some of the best talent in the conference on display from Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.
Six of the top ten teams in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll were SEC teams, while a total of 10 teams cracked the top 25. No. 2 Texas will be one of the teams in action on Thursday. The winner of the tournament will earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, though with the SEC’s strength, the winner likely already clinched a berth with its regular-season performance.
Here’s a closer look at the third day of the SEC baseball tournament, including the updated bracket, TV schedule, game times and more:
SEC baseball tournament games today
There are three games scheduled for the 2025 SEC baseball tournament on Thursday. Initially, the day was supposed to be just two quarterfinal games, but due to weather and scheduling, No. 6 Auburn will take on No. 14 Texas A&M in a second-round matchup.
No. 1 Texas and No. 4 Vanderbilt will also join the Tigers in making their 2025 SEC tournament debut, as both had received a double bye as top-four seeds. While the winner of the quarterfinals games will get an extra day of rest until the semifinals on Saturday, the winner of the Tigers-Aggies game will be back in action on Friday in the quarterfinals.
Here’s a look at Wednesday’s schedule in the SEC baseball tournament:
All times Central
- No. 14 Texas A&M vs. No. 6 seed Auburn | 11 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
- No. 8 Alabama/No. 9 Tennessee vs. No. 1 seed Texas | 3 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
- No. 12 Oklahoma/No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 4 seed Vanderbilt | 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
What channel is the 2025 SEC baseball tournament on?
All three 2025 SEC baseball tournament games will air on the SEC Network. Fans can also stream the games on the ESPN App — which requires a cable login to access — and Fubo, which offers potential subscribers a free trial.
SEC baseball tournament bracket 2025
Click here for an updated look at the 2025 SEC baseball tournament bracket.
NIL
Spring update of 2025 college football SP+ rankings for every FBS team
Bill ConnellyMay 22, 2025, 07:00 AM ET Close Bill Connelly is a writer for ESPN. He covers college football, soccer and tennis. He has been at ESPN since 2019. Open Extended Reactions In 93 days, it all starts again. From Week 0’s Irish Farmageddon (Iowa State vs. Kansas State in Dublin) in mid-August to the […]
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Bill Connelly
In 93 days, it all starts again. From Week 0’s Irish Farmageddon (Iowa State vs. Kansas State in Dublin) in mid-August to the national title game in late January, the 2025 college football season looms. And with transfer portal movement finally slowing down — including spring moves, FBS teams have averaged more than 19 transfers this offseason, up more than 40% from last season — we can finally take a semi-confident look at what’s in store this fall. That means updating our numbers.
Below are updated SP+ projections for the coming season. A quick reminder: Preseason projections are based on three factors.
1. Returning production. The returning production numbers are based on rosters I have updated as much as humanly possible to account for transfers and attrition. The combination of last year’s SP+ ratings and adjustments based on returning production makes up about two-thirds of the projections formula.
2. Recent recruiting. This piece informs us of the caliber of a team’s potential replacements (and/or new stars) in the lineup. It is determined by the past few years of recruiting rankings in diminishing order (meaning the most recent class carries the most weight). This is also impacted by the recruiting rankings of incoming transfers, an acknowledgment that the art of roster management is now heavily dictated by the transfer portal.
3. Recent history. Using a sliver of information from the previous four seasons or so gives us a good measure of overall program health.
(One other reminder: SP+ is a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency. It is a predictive measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football, not a résumé ranking, and along those lines, these projections aren’t intended to be a guess at what the AP Top 25 will look like at the end of the season. These are simply early offseason power rankings based on the information we have been able to gather.)
Here are the updated rankings:
This time around, I am also experimenting with what you might call a fourth projection factor: coaching changes. Using data discussed in this March column, I have incorporated some adjustments based on who changed head coaches and/or offensive or defensive coordinators and how those teams performed against historic norms last year. Translation: For teams or units that underachieved significantly against their 20-year averages and changed coaches or coordinators (example: Oklahoma’s offense, Purdue’s entire team), that means a slight bump upward. For teams or units that overachieved and lost their coaches or coordinators (example: UNLV as a team or Louisiana Tech’s defense), that means a bump down.
The adjustments aren’t enormous, but when you see that Oklahoma’s projected rating has risen since February, that explains it.
Minimal changes near the top
Thirteen teams moved up or down at least 10 spots compared to February’s rankings, due to either transfer portal addition/attrition, the coaching adjustments mentioned above, or simply me getting a much better read on returning production after official roster releases. At the very top, however, not a ton changed. The top four teams from February continue to occupy the same spots, though Texas hopped Notre Dame and Oregon into the No. 5 hole. Clemson and Michigan rose a bit, Tennessee dropped five spots after Nico Iamaleava’s transfer, and Oklahoma eased into the top 15. (With their ridiculous schedule, however, the Sooners’ projected win total still isn’t great.)
Editor’s Picks2 RelatedThe overall conference hierarchy hasn’t changed much either, though with the Sun Belt getting hit particularly hard by spring transfer attrition, the AAC moves into the top spot among Group of 5 conferences.Average SP+ rating by conference1. SEC (15.3 overall, 33.1 offense, 17.8 defense, 60.7% average returning production)Top three teams: No. 2 Alabama, No. 4 Georgia, No. 5 Texas2. Big Ten (9.5 overall, 29.1 offense, 19.6 defense, 56.7% average returning production)Top three teams: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Penn State, No. 7 OregonBoth the SEC and Big Ten boast three of the projected top seven teams, but if we measure conferences by average ratings, the SEC still has a commanding lead due, as always, to the lack of dead weight. Only two of 16 SEC teams are projected lower than 43rd overall, while the Big Ten has six such teams, including three ranked 70th or worse. That helps explain why, despite playing only eight-game conference schedules, SEC teams occupy 13 of the top 15 spots in the strength of schedule rankings.3. Big 12 (6.3 overall, 31.0 offense, 24.7 defense, 61.8% average returning production)Top three teams: No. 18 Kansas State, No. 22 Arizona State, No. 26 Texas Tech4. ACC (5.0 overall, 30.8 offense, 25.8 defense, 59.2% average returning production)Top three teams: No. 8 Clemson, No. 12 Miami, No. 20 SMUWe see a similar dynamic with the Big 12 and ACC — in terms of the quality of its top teams, the ACC (three top-20 teams) seems to have an advantage over the Big 12 (one top-20 team). But the Big 12 has eight top-35 teams compared to the ACC’s four, and while no Big 12 team is projected lower than 66th, the ACC’s average is dragged down by three teams ranking 79th or lower.5. AAC (-7.8 overall, 26.0 offense, 33.8 defense, 49.4% average returning production)Top three teams: No. 48 Tulane, No. 53 Memphis, No. 63 UTSA6. Sun Belt (-8.1 overall, 24.9 offense, 33.0 defense, 46.3% average returning production)Top three teams: No. 49 James Madison, No. 74 Louisiana, No. 76 South Alabama7. Mountain West (-8.6 overall, 23.5 offense, 32.1 defense, 46.5% average returning production)Top three teams: No. 33 Boise State, No. 75 UNLV, No. 83 San Jose StateThree G5 teams are within one point of each other on average, though again, the distribution varies significantly by conference. The MWC is propped up significantly by Boise State, the best projected G5 team, but its average is dragged down by three teams ranking 119th or worse. The Sun Belt has only one such team. The AAC, meanwhile, has a solid five teams in the top 70 … and four teams projected 120th or worse.8. Conference USA (-13.0 overall, 20.4 offense, 33.4 defense, 50.7% average returning production)Top three teams: No. 69 Liberty, No. 85 Western Kentucky, No. 104 Jacksonville State9. MAC (-13.7 overall, 19.8 offense, 33.5 defense, 41.1% average returning production)Top three teams: No. 72 Toledo, No. 80 Ohio, No. 91 BuffaloNo conference was hit harder by the portal than the MAC, which has only three teams ranked higher than 94th in the returning production rankings below. That’s going to wreck your averages, though Toledo and Buffalo both escaped too much damage in this regard.An approximate CFP contenders listMy SP+ strength of schedule ratings are based on a simple question: How would the average top-five team fare against your schedule? Oklahoma’s schedule currently features five of the projected top 11 teams and nine of the top 25, while Notre Dame’s features only two teams projected higher than 30th; SP+ SOS says a top-five team would average a 0.757 win percentage against OU’s schedule (equivalent to 9.1 wins in 12 games) and a 0.894 win percentage against Notre Dame’s (10.7 wins). That’s a pretty big difference.Schedule strengths obviously vary quite a bit within conferences — not every SEC schedule is Oklahoma’s — but it’s worth acknowledging that when it comes to potential College Football Playoff-worthy résumés, the bar can be set in a different spot based on a team’s conference.Average strength-of-schedule rating per conferenceSEC 0.799 (9.6 wins for a typical top-five team)
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Big Ten 0.846 (10.2)
ACC 0.891 (10.7)
Big 12 0.902 (10.8)
AAC 0.956 (11.5)
Sun Belt 0.958 (11.5)
MWC 0.959 (11.5)
CUSA 0.964 (11.6)
MAC 0.965 (11.6)
When it comes to how a top-five team would fare, the average SEC schedule is about one win harder than the average ACC or Big 12 schedule. The Big Ten, with its deadweight teams, is about a half-win harder than those leagues but is still more likely to get lumped in with the SEC than the others in the Power 4.
Long story short: We can confidently say that any 10-2 or better team in the SEC or Big Ten would be a likely playoff contender, just as any 11-1 or better team in the ACC or Big 12 would be. We can therefore create a loose list of likely CFP contenders by looking at the teams most likely to hit those marks.
Odds of an SEC team going 10-2 or better: Alabama 65% (SOS rank: 11th), Texas 61% (12th), Georgia 61% (13th), Ole Miss 38% (23rd), Tennessee 33% (24th), LSU 30% (ninth), Florida 18% (second), Auburn 13% (15th), Oklahoma 9% (first), Missouri 5% (25th)
Odds of a Big Ten team going 10-2 or better: Penn State 82% (SOS rank: 29th), Ohio State 77% (21st), Oregon 73% (32nd), Michigan 62% (38th), Illinois 29% (40th), Nebraska 13% (35th), USC 10% (20th), Indiana 9% (31st)
With a particularly weak nonconference schedule and a particularly good team, Penn State might be in the driver’s seat in terms of playoff qualification, while Ohio State, Oregon, Alabama, Michigan and Georgia are all over 60% likely to finish the regular season with two or fewer losses.
Odds of a Big 12 or ACC team (or Notre Dame) going 11-1 or better: Notre Dame 52% (SOS rank: 44th), Clemson 37% (34th), Miami 23% (36th), Kansas State 17% (57th), BYU 7% (64th), Texas Tech 7% (62nd), SMU 6% (45th), Arizona State 5% (61st)
Odds of a Group of 5 team going 11-1 or better: Boise State 37% (SOS rank: 84th), Liberty 17% (136th), Toledo 11% (133rd), Memphis 8% (121st), James Madison 7% (104th)
Notre Dame starts the season with games against Miami and Texas A&M, and while the rest of the schedule features plenty of solid opponents (five are projected between 30th and 47th), if the Irish are 2-0 out of the gates, they’re staring a second straight CFP appearance in the face.
Updated returning production rankings
With updated SP+ projections come updated returning production figures. A reminder: While returning production doesn’t correlate with pure quality, it does correlate well with improvement and regression, particularly at the extremes.
(Note: The production of incoming transfers is mashed into both the numerator and denominator of the returning production formula — so if you lose your starting quarterback but bring in someone else’s from the portal, your returning yardage is probably somewhere around 50%. The production of transfers from schools below the FBS level get half-credit.)
As was the case in February, Clemson leads the way here. And with the way that talent trickles upward in the transfer portal era, it’s probably not a surprise that nine of the top 10 teams in returning production (and 22 of the top 26) are power-conference teams. The P4 boasts 59.6% returning production overall, while the G5 is at 46.8%. That’s a pretty massive gap, one that isn’t likely to shrink anytime soon.
NIL
Jerome Tang, Kansas State Given Poor Grade Mostly Due To NIL Failures
Under normal circumstances, the Kansas State basketball season wasn’t all that bad. The Wildcats finished under .500 for the first time since 2021-22. It was the first losing record during coach Jerome Tang’s tenure. It led to ESPN giving the Wildcats a D grade for the season. But it wasn’t solely because of performance. The […]
Under normal circumstances, the Kansas State basketball season wasn’t all that bad. The Wildcats finished under .500 for the first time since 2021-22. It was the first losing record during coach Jerome Tang’s tenure. It led to ESPN giving the Wildcats a D grade for the season.
But it wasn’t solely because of performance. The Wildcats were among the most scrutinized programs in the country because the amount of money spent in NIL.
“The NIL era has altered the way a team’s potential is analyzed,” the ESPN article read. “The more a team spends, well, the more their fans expect. That’s what happened with Kansas State this past season.”
Big money was spent on transfers Coleman Hawkins, Dug McDaniel and Achor Achor. They were expected to build on the progress made by Tang.
“Coleman Hawkins, a transfer from Illinois, reportedly made $2 million after he picked the Wildcats over a list of other elite programs — and he wasn’t the only highly compensated transfer whom Jerome Tang added,” the ESPN article stated. “But the team missed the mark. Tang and Michigan transfer Dug McDaniel weren’t on the same page, and Samford transfer Achor Achor left the team for personal reasons after playing just seven games.”
Kansas State was among six teams in the Big 12 given D grades, joining Kansas, Arizona State, Utah, Cincinnati and Baylor. Colorado received the only F.
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