FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Ryan Silverfield had a second stop to make Thursday after his first press conference since being hired as Arkansas football coach.

He had to face the people he needs to win over, the ones the Razorbacks need to increase their spending so they can compete with the SEC’s power programs.

Silverfield signed a five-year, $33.5 million deal to take over in Arkansas earlier in the week. He had coached Memphis since the 2020 season, plus a single game with the Tigers as interim head coach in 2019. Memphis qualified for a bowl in every season with Silverfield at the helm and peaked in 2024 with an 11-2 record. The Tigers hold an 8-4 record ahead of a likely bowl game.

Those kinds of results at Arkansas would be a boon. The Razorbacks’ season concluded Saturday with a loss to Missouri. That ended a 2-10 season with an 0-8 record in the Southeastern Conference, the third season in the last seven Arkansas finished with those marks.

“This program is built on pride, resilience and toughness, and it’s time to bring it all back,” Silverfield said at the press conference. “Being all in together, we will rebuild it, we will earn it, and we will make this state proud.”

Finances were one of the biggest points in both the press conference and the public introduction a few hours later. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek has made a point for the last year that the Razorbacks need more contributions for NIL funds in order to compete at a higher level in the SEC. The first audible announcement over the loudspeaker before Silverfield took the dais was one asking for money.

NIL war chests are tight-lipped secrets across college football. But Arkansas’ football attendance, which equates to revenue earned, ranks fifth from the bottom in the SEC. Both Silverfield and Yurachek said finances were a key topic during the interview and contract negotiations.

“I think it’s our competitive advantage not to give details of what that is, other than to tell you that it is a significant investment in all aspects of our football program that will move us to the top half of spending in all of those categories I mentioned in the Southeastern Conference,” Yurachek said. “I don’t believe we need to be at the top of spending. We need to be somewhere where we’re really competitive and Ryan and I are on the same page with where we are.”

Quarterback KJ Jackson and defensive end Quincy Rhoads Jr. both joined the press conference and announced they would return to the team in 2026. Jackson, a rising sophomore, took over as Arkansas’ starting quarterback for the final game of the season and is largely considered the future of the position. Rhoads finished in a tie for fifth in the SEC in sacks (8) and second in the league in tackles for-loss (17 1/2).

Silverfield told fans he doesn’t think a rebuild will take long.

“It’s not one of those things where we’re sitting here saying, ‘Hey, you know, Hunter, I need three years to rebuild this,’” Silverfield said. “No. We can start rebuilding the culture the moment we step down.”

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A new era of Kentucky football was celebrated yesterday as Will Stein was introduced as head coach and spoke to fans along with media for the first time.

As expected, NIL came up in this conference as it is the talking point of college sports all around the country.

The new head coach was the first to confirm that Kentucky is where it needs to be to compete for the players it wants under the new leadership.

“Yeah, of course, of course,” Stein said. “Mitch [Barnhart], Mark [Hill] laid out a great plan. Feel like we’re right there to be successful right away.”

To help navigate this process, it is believed that Pat Biondo will be joining the staff as a general manager.

The role has started to become more integrated into the sport in this rising world of NIL in order to have experts at the forefront of this process for recruiting and roster-building purposes.

Barnhart spoke with media after the introductory press conference and doubled-down on Stein’s take about NIL for the program in a fired response.

“We’re confident in what we’re doing and people ask that question 19 different ways, from all the stuff that’s been going on, and it’s exhausting. You know, enough, enough about have we got enough? We’ve got enough, and we’re working at it just like everyone else is working at it We’re no different,” Barnhart exclaimed. “They’ve got Learfield, we’ve got JMI, they’ve got Learfield, they’ve got playflight. So this notion that we don’t have enough is ridiculous. We’ve got enough.”

Another avenue that has caused several debates on NIL is the salary cap that limited the amount schools could directly share to athletes at $20.5 million.

This was meant to limit the amount schools could give players and sounds good in principle, but like most things when it comes to NIL, did not work that way.

A lot of schools have used deals outside the school that has inflated the money within college football programs well above the limit.

Some schools have even incorporated and expanded athletic departments into agency to secure the deals for these players that bend the rules just a bit.

Another major issue is that schools are making NIL promises part of recruitment for high schools players and transfers.

Within the given timeframe, there is nothing wrong with this, but since NIL, teams have been known to reach out to players when they are not allowed to.

This tampering expedited the process for getting Stein to Lexington to become the Wildcats next head coach.

“Make no mistake about it, we can talk about tampering, we can talk about no doing this, no doing that, they’re flat calling players all over the place, and there’s player movement everywhere,” Barnhart said. “So let’s not kid ourselves, so, yeah, to protect our roster, to protect our program, to protect recruiting, we had to move fast.”

However, while others might be not playing the rules and finding workarounds, that is not going to happen at Kentucky.

“We’ve got to resource it the right way. We got to assess talent the right way. We got to acquire it the right way. We’ve got to make sure we’re within the boundaries and the rules,” Barnhart said. “We’re not going to break the rules. That’s flat out. We’re not doing that alright, we will do it the right way. We don’t need to, we don’t need to do that. We’re good enough at what we do. We’ve got good people.”

With National Signing Day over and the transfer portal opening in January, it will not take long to see just how well Stein and Kentucky can compete with the rest of the SEC to recruit talent in this NIL era.

College football has had incredible developments over the last several years, from NIL deals, to the expanded college football playoff and everything in between, so much so that it’s led to more government involvement in the sport than ever before.

Not to mention, the transfer portal process became such an issue that President Donald J. Trump tried several methods to help the greater good of the game, including signing executive orders and encouraging Congress to come up with solutions.

Though, the latest request of the President comes from one of college football’s biggest stars.

Upon the release of the latest College Football Playoff rankings just days before the final reveal of the field, the Vanderbilt Commodores — who are 10-2 with losses to Alabama and Texas — came in at No. 14 with no real path to move into the 12-team field.

Commodores’ quarterback Diego Pavia — who will likely be a Heisman Trophy finalist — has pleaded with Trump to sign an executive order that would expand the field to 16 teams, allowing four from the SEC to be guaranteed, along with four at-large bids.

Needless to say, Pavia’s request is not going to get approved, but it does reflect the current chaos college football finds itself in when star players are openly begging the President to do something about a flawed system.

Whether Pavia’s in the playoffs or not, he and Vanderbilt have been one of the best stories in the nation this year, and he has made huge contributions to college football.

The college football transfer portal’s new Jan. 2-16 window is still weeks away, but the 2025-26 cycle is already moving. Teams have built portal boards for months, players are lining up to enter, and behind the scenes, discussions are happening that make the calendar feel symbolic more than binding.

This cycle arrives with stricter rules. FBS and FCS players can’t officially enter until Jan. 2, graduate transfers no longer have year-round freedom, and the spring window is gone entirely. Even head-coaching changes only trigger a 15-day clock if a hire happens after Jan. 2. The NCAA hopes the changes create predictability; early signs suggest the market will still move fast.

MORE AT 247SPORTS — College Football Transfer Portal 2026: Key rule changes, NIL money battles and the QB market to watch

Money will ensure that. Despite rev-share caps and looming College Sports Commission (CSC) oversight, top programs are signaling they’ll spend aggressively. LSU reportedly committed $25-30 million for roster building, and BYU lined up eight figures to retain Kalani Sitake. Coaches estimate it now takes north of $25 million to build a title-level roster — a number many Power Four schools can’t touch.

And all of it leads to the position that drives every portal cycle: quarterback. Multiple contenders, new staffs and bluebloods with unsettled depth charts are preparing to chase veteran help. These are the teams most likely to shape the top of the quarterback market.

Teams at the top of the market

Miami: The Hurricanes are likely to dip into the portal for a third straight offseason in pursuit of a quarterback with Carson Beck’s impending graduation. Though, there is some internal optimism about the development of Emory Williams.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders love backup quarterback Will Hammond, but he tore his ACL in late October. Given that there’s no guarantee of him being ready for next season, Texas Tech is expected to go after a starter-quality passer in the portal. Money tends to be no object in Lubbock, Texas.

Indiana: Yep, Indiana absolutely belongs in the top end of the quarterback market conversation. That’s what happens when you make the College Football Playoff in back-to-back years and are about to produce a first-round pick under center. Expect Indiana to go and get a guy to replace Fernando Mendoza.

LSU: Could it just end up being Trinidad Chambliss? That’s certainly possible if he can secure a waiver. Either way, the Tigers are expected to be in the portal market for a starter.

Florida State: There had been some thought tyhat Tommy Castellanos could qualify for an additional season of college football via a waiver. It could still happen, but there’s a good chance Florida State hops into the high-end portal quarterback market either way.

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Others that could join the mix

That top of the market could grow, too, depending on a few big quarterback decisions. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore could end up going to the draft — right now, sources indicate that it’s more likely he stays — which would mean Oregon jumping into the fray.

Auburn will have a decision to make about its 2026 signal-caller. Deuce Knight is a potential superstar and seems to be an ideal on-paper fit for Alex Golesh’s system. Knight has also started just one game. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Auburn make a move and target an experienced quarterback.

Clemson, believe it or not, is also a team to watch in the quarterback market. The Tigers have indicated to agents that quarterback is a potential need this cycle as they replace Cade Klubnik. Whether that’s a high-end starter or someone to compete with Christopher Vizzina remains to be seen.

There are also a lot of other teams expected to go get a guy. Illinois, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Baylor will all likely need starting arms, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Even as most people’s attention turns to conference championship weekend and the race for the College Football Playoff, college football’s early signing period began on Wednesday. The early signing period runs through Friday, Dec. 5.

The “Early” signing period has become college football’s new national signing day as programs across the country are pushing their top prospects to enroll early, allowing them a chance to spend the spring semester on campus.

Rankings are expected to shift over the new few days as players potentially flip their commitment, choosing to sign elsewhere. The rankings below are updated as of Thursday morning after the first day of the early signing period.

Below are the updated college football recruiting rankings for the 2026 class, per the Rivals industry ranking.

10. Texas Longhorns (SEC)

Total Commits: 23

5-Stars: 3

4-Stars: 10

Avg. Rating: 90.18

Avg. NIL: $178K

Despite not breaking into the Top 5, the Longhorns signed a star-studded class, continuing the momentum from last season’s No. 1-ranked class. Five-star quarterback Dia Bell headlines the class, which also features five-star edge rusher Richard Wesley and five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson. An underrated signing was four-star cornerback Hayward Howard Jr. out of Edna Carr High School in Louisiana.

9. Miami Hurricanes (ACC)

Total Commits: 30

5-Stars: 1

4-Stars: 19

Avg. Rating: 90.42

Avg. NIL: $155K

The Hurricanes have continued to set the pace on the recruiting trail in the ACC, landing the conference’s top-ranked class once again. Five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell is the gem of the class, ranking as the No. 2 overall player in the 2026 class, according to the Rivals industry ranking. Miami also made sure to secure some homegrown talent, landing key in-state players such as Jaelen Waters, Somourian Wingo, and Asharri Charles.

8. Texas A&M Aggies (SEC)

Total Commits: 27

5-Stars: 1

4-Stars: 21

Avg. Rating: 90.83

Avg. NIL: $85K

The Aggies have secured another Top 10 recruiting class under head coach Mike Elko. Five-star cornerback Brandon Arrington appears to be an instant-impact signee, while KJ Edwards and Jayden Warren were massive in-state recruiting wins. Texas A&M also reached into Georgia, taking two promising prospects: defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Wright and wide receiver Aaron Gregory.

7. Tennessee Volunteers (SEC)

Total Commits: 28

5-Stars: 2

4-Stars: 13

Avg. Rating: 90.28

Avg. NIL: $151K

Tennessee continues to load up on elite offensive weapons, landing five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon and five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys. Both could compete for immediate playing time next season in Josh Heupel’s offense. The Volunteers also signed some underrated defensive prospects, including Hezekiah Harris and Jordan Carter, winning key recruiting battles against SEC rivals.

6. Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC)

Total Commits: 20

5-Stars: 3

4-Stars: 10

Avg. Rating: 91.95

Avg. NIL: $205K

It’s safe to say we can put the Kalen DeBoer recruiting concerns to rest with Alabama landing another Top 10 recruiting class. Five-star running back Ezavier Crowell was a massive in-state recruiting win, while five-stars Xavier Griffin and Jireh Edwards could have an immediate impact defensively. The Crimson Tide signed three of the Top 4 players in the state of Alabama, showing off its in-state dominance once again.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten)

Total Commits: 27

5-Stars: 1

4-Stars: 14

Avg. Rating: 90.91

Avg. NIL: $135K

Ohio State holds onto a Top 5 spot for now, but all eyes are watching five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., who did not sign yesterday. Even without Henry, the Buckeyes should still firmly remain in the Top 10, but would not have a five-star signee, according to the Rivals industry ranking. Defensive lineman Khary Wilder and cornerback Jay Timmons are the next highest-ranked signees, both earning five-star ratings from Rivals, but are not industry five-stars.

4. Georgia Bulldogs (SEC)

Total Commits: 31

5-Stars: 1

4-Stars: 20

Avg. Rating: 90.77

Avg. NIL: $130K

Even with a smaller signing class, the Bulldogs secured one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Five-star tight end Kaiden Protho headlines the class, while offensive tackle Ekene Ogboko has been a prospect that’s rising through the player rankings, earning a fifth star from Rivals in the latest update. It was a strong defensive back class for the Bulldogs, who signed four-star cornerbacks Justice Fitzpatrick and Caden Harris, along with safety Jordan Smith.

3. Oregon Ducks (Big Ten)

Total Commits: 21

5-Stars: 5

4-Stars: 11

Avg. Rating: 92.13

Avg. NIL: $253K

If you are looking for quality over quantity, Oregon’s 2026 recruiting class is the perfect example. The Ducks signed five five-star prospects, including offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho, safety Jett Washington, and edge rusher Anthony “Tank” Jones. Oregon landed the No. 1 player from four states, including New York and Arizona. It was another impressive recruiting cycle under head coach Dan Lanning.

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Ind.)

Total Commits: 27

5-Stars: 4

4-Stars: 15

Avg. Rating: 91.60

Avg. NIL: $101K

After missing the Top 10 last season, head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff really delivered on the recruiting trail. The Fighting Irish signed four five-stars, including edge rusher Rodney Durham, cornerback Khary Adams, tight end Ian Premer, and safety Joey O’Brien. Notre Dame continued its tradition of signing talented running backs, landing four-star Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton.

1. USC Trojans (Big Ten)

Total Commits: 35

5-Stars: 1

4-Stars: 21

Avg. Rating: 90.83

Avg. NIL: $160K

After finishing 15th nationally in last year’s recruiting rankings, head coach Lincoln Riley ended the 18-year SEC streak of top recruiting classes. Five-star Mark Bowman headlines the class, representing a massive in-state recruiting win over other national powers. The Trojans also signed 16 Top 300 players in the Rivals industry ranking, along with the top JUCO tight end in Josiah Jefferson.