Category: College Football

The University of Utah is finalizing a landmark private equity partnership that would be the first of its kind in college athletics. Utah is set to enter an agreement with New York-based firm Otro Capital that will help generate an estimated $500 million for the school, it announced on Tuesday. The deal is expected to be finalized in early 2026.

Utah received clearance from the NCAA to enter the partnership, according to Yahoo Sports. It must abide by certain stipulations to remain an NCAA member, though. For instance, university president Taylor Randall and athletic director Mark Harlan must retain majority decision-making control.

With the groundbreaking deal comes the creation of a for-profit entity, Utah Brands & Entertainment LLC, which will exist as an independent offshoot of the athletic department co-owned by the university and Otro Capital. The school will be the majority owner and possess decision-making authority (including on schedules, coaches and other pertinent factors) while Otro Capital earns a percentage of the company’s annual revenue.

The agreement comes with an exit strategy five to seven years down the line, and the university possesses the right to purchase Otro Capital’s ownership stake.

Utah Brands & Entertainment will oversee the revenue-sharing efforts with Utes athletes. Harlan is set to chair its board, which will elect a president from outside the university. Personnel, divisions and operations that were traditionally under the athletic department’s umbrella will largely exist as part of the new company.

Donors will also be able to purchase stakes in Utah Brands & Entertainment. Between the investments from donors and a nine-figure deal with Otro Capital, Utah could raise more than $500 million, setting…

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What a day for James Madison (the university, not the footballer).

For those of you in the loop on all things college [American] football, James Madison University is in the college football playoff. This is a pretty big deal after JMU won their conference on Friday.

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It’s always refreshing to see teams like James Madison and Tulane get into meaningful college football games unlike Alabama Notre Dame, who appear to make an appearance every single year.

But even more important than this is the Pop Tarts Bowl, which will crown the true champion of America’s greatest sport.

Carty Free are longtime admirers of this sporting event. Menno’s written about the pop tarts, and so have I. And I will again after this.

I mean, just look at that pop tart being descended into a toaster. Who cannot relate to that?

But before then will be the James Madison game against Oregon. So it’s time to get excited, because James Madison football is coming thick and fast.

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Fitzie’s track of the day: Alone Together, by Chet Baker

And now for your links:

Alasdair Gold: “Why Romero and Van de Ven really raged at Kudus and worrying Kolo Muani sight for Tottenham”

The Athletic ($$): “Toxic Tottenham? Thomas Frank has turned fans away from the boos, for now at least”

Deseret News: “BYU will play Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl”

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INDIANAPOLIS — On Indiana’s first offensive play, with palpable enthusiasm emanating from the thousands of Hoosiers fans in attendance, Fernando Mendoza rolled out, released the ball and then … took a massive hit.

Mendoza, the face of the undefeated Hoosiers’ high-powered offense, landed hard and laid crumpled on the ground after taking a shot from Ohio State defender Caden Curry. As the seconds ticked off, the Indiana faithful turned eerily quiet as their star quarterback didn’t get up. 

“I was, like, ‘Oh boy,’” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. 

“Obvious concern for his health,” his father, Fernando Mendoza Sr., told CBS Sports afterwards. 

Indianapolis held its breath as Mendoza laid on the turf following a big shot from an Ohio State defender. 
IMAGN Images

Mendoza was helped off the field, his younger brother, Alberto, came in for a play and in an instant it felt like Indiana’s dream season may have just gone up in smoke. What felt like a fever dream — Indiana in Indianapolis playing for a Big Ten Championship in football — was suddenly a nightmare. 

And then, one play later, Fernando Mendoza Jr. ran back out to a massive cheer. He had the wind knocked out of him and was ready to do whatever he could to get back out there. It wasn’t as bad as it initially looked. 

“I was never going to stay down,” Mendoza said. “And that’s one thing I know — one thing, I say it and I know it could be a little interpreted as a little criticism sometimes, but I will die for my brothers on that field. So, no matter where it’s a gut punch, whether it’s a head punch, whatever it is I’m always going to get back…

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It’s officially Championship Saturday in college football, as four key games will help decide the playoff field, the Heisman Trophy race, and provide an early insight into the NFL draft plans for 2026 prospects.

Big 12 Title Game: BYU vs. Texas Tech

Date: Saturday, Dec. 6

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Time: Noon on ABC

BYU

Chase Roberts, Wide Receiver

A tall physical pass catcher (6′ 4″, 210 lbs), Roberts has 44 catches for 713 yards (16.2 avg) and five touchdowns.

Isaiah Glasker, Linebacker

Jack Kelly, Linebacker

Texas Tech

Cole Wisniewski, Safety

Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker

Rodriguez became Texas Tech’s first Butkus Award winner in a surprise presentation Friday. Rodriguez becomes the first Butkus Award winner in Texas Tech history and the first Red Raider to garner a national award since Patrick Mahomes II claimed the Sammy Baugh Trophy in 2016. Rodriguez enters the Edward Jones Big 12 Championship on Saturday with 104 tackles this season, including 10.0 that have gone for a loss. His most significant impact has been in the takeaway category, though, as he’s responsible for nine forced turnovers this season, all during Big 12 play. Rodriguez is currently the FBS leader with seven forced fumbles this season to go along with four interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries. Rodriguez is currently the highest-rated defensive player in all of college football, according to Pro Football Focus, grading out at 93.4 overall so far this season. He ranks second nationally on both sides of the ball, trailing only Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (93.5). Rodriguez also leads the country (all positions) with a 95.3 grade in rush defense, while his 92.8 grade in coverage ranks second behind only teammate Romello Height (93.4).

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Romello Height, Edge Rusher

David Bailey, Edge Rusher

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 250 | Prev. rank: 13

2025 stats over…

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Penn State football finally has its new leader in place.

Iowa State’s Matt Campbell has reportedly agreed to terms to become only Penn State’s fifth head coach since 1950, ending a winding, if not tiring, 54-day search since James Franklin was fired.

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Campbell’s first tasks will be to quickly galvanize a decimated recruiting class and an uncertain roster that must prepare for a bowl game, with or without beloved interim head leader Terry Smith.

Campbell, 46, is known for building one of college football’s better résumés at one of its most difficult places to succeed. He won at least eight games five times since arriving at Iowa State — a program that, somehow, had managed that just one time before since 1978.

Campbell was making $5 million in guaranteed pay in 2025. Penn State presumably will cover the $2 million he owes Iowa State for breaking his contract early, according to the contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Here are five things to know about the Nittany Lions’ new head coach:

Oct 4, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell reacts from the sideline against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Penn State football: Matt Campbell was a national title winner

The Ohio native was an All-American defensive end (1999-2002) at in-state Mount Union, a Division III power.

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There, he won three national titles and four conference titles with a stunning 54-1 record.

He was inducted into the Mount Union Hall of Fame in 2018.

Matt Campbell, overachieving coaching success

His head coaching stats are impressive enough at two of the tougher places to win in the nation: Toledo and then Iowa State.

He owns a 107-70 overall record.

Even more telling: He suffered only one losing season after his first year at Iowa…

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The last two weeks have been a full-speed sprint for James Franklin at Virginia Tech.

The former Penn State coach still hasn’t assembled an on-field staff, and with only a skeleton group of support staffers in the building, he’s been grinding: recruiting nonstop, hosting visitors, and constructing a class almost entirely from zero. The payoff has been one of the most stunning turnarounds in recent recruiting memory. Franklin has lifted a class that once sat at No. 124 in the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings all the way to No. 22 as night fell Wednesday, which was the first day of the three-day early signing period. 

How did Franklin and the Hokies pull it off? Relationships. And plenty of former Penn State commits.

“It’s been a scramble,” Franklin told CBS Sports on Wednesday. “Some of these coaches that took some of these jobs around the country, and none of the recruits decommitted. One of the coaches I saw landed his plane, and the No. 1 recruit in the country was waiting for him there.

“We had a very different experience.”

If you didn’t know already, that coach is Lane Kiffin. He ditched playoff-bound Ole Miss for LSU on Sunday and was welcomed at the Tigers’ facility by defensive lineman commitment Lamar Brown, who is not quite the nation’s No. 1 recruit — but No. 4 overall is close enough. 

Meanwhile, the chaos in Blacksburg has worked in Franklin’s favor. Cast aside by Penn State on Oct. 12 after three straight losses — including collapses as three-touchdown favorites against UCLA and Northwestern — Franklin has capitalized on the market. He said he hosted 17 recruits last weekend alone.

The results speak loudly. Franklin has flipped 10 Penn State commitments to Virginia Tech, sinking the Nittany Lions’ class to No….

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Dec. 3 marks the start of the Early Signing Day Period and the TCU Horned Frogs kicked off their day with a major flip of three-star wide receiver Cooper Reid, who was previously committed to Arizona State before sharing his commitment to TCU on Wednesday morning. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder from Dripping Springs, Texas caught 50 passes for 778 yards and 17 touchdowns over 10 games during the 2025 season, helping Dripping Springs to a 12-1 record. In 2024, Reid caught 62 receptions for 1,006 yards and 15 touchdowns over 12 games.

A basketball and track athlete as well, Reid caught 36 passes for 636 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023. Reid, who had been committed to Arizona State since the summer, held offers from California, Houston, Kansas, Minnesota and more before signing with TCU on Wednesday. Reid’s signing makes him the 22nd member of the 2026 recruiting class, which now ranks 33rd in the country, according to 247Sports. Reid also becomes the fourth wide receiver in the class, joining Khamill Pruitt, Ace Theus and James Scott.

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There was a major change in the latest set of College Football Playoff Rankings, as Texas A&M dropped out of the top four to No. 7 following its loss to Texas in the final full weekend of the regular season. The Aggies’ drop allowed Texas Tech to climb into the top four at No. 4. 

Georgia also climbed one spot to No. 3 while Ohio State and Indiana remain No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. That wasn’t the only notable development in Tuesday’s rankings, though. 

Notre Dame slipped one spot to No. 10 after sitting at nine for several weeks. Alabama leapfrogged the Fighting Irish after closing its season with a narrow 27-20 victory against in-state rival Auburn. The Crimson Tide can cement their status in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game clash against Georgia, while Notre Dame — as an independent — left its last impression on the selection committee in Week 14. 

It looks like Ole Miss will be unaffected by coach Lane Kiffin’s departure for LSU. The Rebels still rank sixth, which gives them homefield advantage on the projected College Football Playoff bracket. Retaining most of the remaining coaching staff through the postseason at least likely helped Ole Miss’ outlook. 

Tulane remained as the highest-ranked Group of Five school at No. 20, which would give the Green Wave the No. 12 seed in the projected bracket. Virginia would sit at the 11-seed if it’s able to take care of business against Duke in the ACC Championship Game. 

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James Madison made its College Football Playoff Rankings debut after capping an 11-1 regular season with a 59-10 win against Coastal Carolina. The Dukes, who went…

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