Category: College Football

Michigan football has a lot of talented players returning as well as coming in via the transfer portal. If former Utah edge rusher John Henry Daley is healthy and productive this season, he could be among the best of the best, as could fellow former Utah cornerback Smith Snowden. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see sophomore wide receiver Andrew Marsh light things up, nor would it redshirt sophomore running back Jordan Marshall.

Yet, everyone knows who the alpha dog on the team is.

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ESPN put together the best returning player for every team it ranked in its too-early top 25, and second-year quarterback Bryce Underwood was listed as the top player for the Wolverines.

Key player retained: Bryce Underwood, QB

New Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham prioritized retaining Underwood as soon as he got the job and met with him before his introductory news conference to seek his feedback on the program and sell him on the new offensive vision. The former No. 1 overall recruit stuck with the Wolverines and stayed out of the portal after a promising debut season in which he produced 2,820 total yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 turnovers over a nine-win season. Whittingham and his coaches had several more critical retention wins in January with running back Jordan Marshall returning and OL Andrew Sprague, OL Jake Guarnera, DL Enow Etta and DB Zeke Berry all withdrawing their names from the transfer portal.

Certainly, Underwood has the highest ceiling, and that may be the case across college football, not just the team specifically. But he’ll have to rise to the occasion, especially if the Wolverines are to get through a tough slog of a schedule in 2026.

Underwood not only has new coaches in offensive coordinator Jason Beck and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr., but he hired a personal QB coach this offseason, one who has worked with…

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NC State secured a commitment on Monday from quarterback Gunner Rivers, the son of program legend and longtime NFL standout Philip Rivers, according to 247Sports. The four-star recruit and No. 42 overall prospect in the 2027 class is one of the 20 highest-rated commits in Wolfpack history.

Rivers, a junior at Fairhope (Ala.) St. Michael, has been tied closely to NC State since last season. He completed a visit during the final week of the regular season when the Wolfpack thumped rival North Carolina in a 42-19 blowout and progressed through his recruitment in the months since, leading to his commitment nearly a year in advance of the 2027 class’ National Signing Day.

While Rivers also held offers from Auburn, Boston College, Miami and South Carolina, his familial link to NC State made the Wolfpack difficult to beat. Dave Doeren offered him a scholarship in May 2024, getting a head start on his recruitment after a strong freshman year of high school.

Rivers plays for his father, who is the coach at St. Michael. He earned the starting job as a freshman and increased his production over the ensuing seasons, leading to a 2025 campaign in which he completed 237 of 343 passes for 3,176 yards and 46 touchdowns with five interceptions. He also ran 33 times for 196 yards and a touchdown. Rivers has yet to pass for fewer than 3,000 yards in a season.

The terrific junior season led Rivers to secure an ASWA Super All-State selection, and he was a finalist for the 4A Back of the Year award. He guided St. Michael to a 13-1 record and a semifinal berth in the state 4A playoffs for…

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Ten years ago — not almost 10 years ago … exactly 10 years ago — Rondale Moore posted a tweet and pinned it to the top of his Twitter page. It read:

Note to self: Be patient.

That was Feb. 21, 2016.

Ten years later — not almost 10 years later … exactly 10 years later — Rondale Moore died. A suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the New Albany (Ind.) Police Department. He was 25.

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More: Rondale Moore’s Purdue legacy of relentless strength will endure

For people all over Indiana, that news — it broke Saturday night and spread across social media, becoming one of Twitter’s most-discussed topics in the country — was stunning, tragic. Moore grew up in New Albany and while he graduated from Trinity High in Louisville, he played as a sophomore on New Albany’s Class 2016 state championship basketball team.

A teammate on that championship team, one of his best friends — a teammate on youth football and basketball teams, and a neighbor who lived five houses down the street — was future Boston Celtics lottery pick Romeo Langford.

In 2018 Moore arrived as a freshman receiver on the Purdue football team, and needed exactly one game to set a team record for all-purpose yards in a game. As a true freshman he was a first-team All-American and the winner of the 2018 Paul Hornung Award, given to the most versatile player in the country. Two years later Moore entered the 2021 NFL Draft and was selected in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals with the 49th overall pick.

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Moore was quiet, reserved. Shy, you could call him. He didn’t enjoy talking with reporters, and not because he was surly. He just knew reporters were going to ask him about a topic he’d prefer not to discuss: Rondale Moore. He had greatness and he had humility, a winning combination in any walk of life….

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Arguably the biggest stop en route to the NFL Draft is the NFL Scouting Combine, which brings well over 300 of the most talented football players in America to Indianapolis. There, the prospects will go through drills that test everything from their athleticism to their ability to fulfill the duties of their specific position on the football field. 

Every year, players utilize the combine, where all 32 NFL teams are represented by scouts and front office personnel, to improve their stock after putting together film in their final collegiate season. The NFL sent invites to 319 players in February now that the 2025 season is in the rearview mirror. 

It should come as no surprise that some of college football’s top brands, like Alabama and Ohio State, will be sending plenty of players to Indianapolis. But upstarts like nearby Indiana, which completed one of the best Cinderella stories in college football history with a national title last season, have plenty of talent headed to the combine. 

Wilson’s 2026 NFL mock draft 6.0: Senior Bowl standouts Caleb Banks, Lee Hunter change Round 1 conversation

Ryan Wilson

Here’s a look at the college programs that produced the most invites to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine: 

1. Texas A&M — 13 

Notable players: WR KC Concepcion; OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams; DL Cashius Howell; LB Taurean York; DB Will Lee III 

Texas A&M,…

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Rondale Moore suited up for Purdue football just 20 times over three seasons.

But when the star receiver was on the field for the Boilermakers, it was must see. Moore tragically passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, at just 25 years old.

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Moore recorded more than 100 receiving yards in half of his 20 career games and totaled 17 touchdowns before the Arizona Cardinals selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.

At Purdue, Moore had no shortage of incredible performances.

More: Rondale Moore, former Purdue football star and NFL player, dies at 25

These are Moore’s five best moments for the Boilermakers.

Rondale Moore leads Purdue football upset of No. 2 Ohio State

Superfan Tyler Trent predicted a Purdue victory on ESPN’s College GameDay. Moore assured it happened in a big way, including a highlight clip that will be played in West Lafayette for decades. Moore caught a swing pass from David Blough, broke through a trio of Ohio State defenders before racing for a 43-yard touchdown to seal an upset on Oct. 20, 2018. Moore finished with 252 all-purpose yards, including 12 receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

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Rondale Moore brings Purdue football bowl berth with IU win

Purdue had some stumbling points during its 2018 season, including a heartbreaking triple overtime loss to Wisconsin that set the stage for the regular season finale. The Boilermakers had to beat rival Indiana to become bowl eligible. Moore had 12 catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-21 victory on Nov. 24, 2018, sending the Boilers to the Music City Bowl.

Rondale Moore has career high receiving yards vs. Vanderbilt

In the history of Purdue’s offensive aerial attacks, plenty of pass catchers have put up big numbers. Only three ever topped the receiving yardage total Moore put up on Sept. 7, 2019. Moore caught 13 passes…

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When a Knoxville judge denied Joey Aguilar’s preliminary injunction on Friday, it left Tennessee with a lot of uncertainty at quarterback. Uncertainty isn’t necessarily bad, but it means the range of outcomes for the 2026 Volunteers just got a lot wider.

In his lone season with Tennessee, Aguilar exceeded expectations considering the circumstances that led to his arrival in Knoxville. Aguilar completed 67.3% of his passes and threw for 3,565 yards (third in the SEC) and 24 touchdowns, all while leading an offense that scored 39.8 points per game (sixth in the country).

Those gaudy numbers were also accompanied by some warts. For starters, Aguilar threw 10 interceptions — some of them coming at inopportune times in big games. His pick six right before halftime completely changed the complexion of the Alabama game, and his two first-half interceptions — plus a fumble resulting in a scoop and score — against Oklahoma were too much for Tennessee to overcome.

If Aguilar had been able to return for the 2026 season, the Vols would’ve had stability at the most important position on the field. The floor would’ve been relatively high, and with Jim Knowles running a revamped defense, a College Football Playoff berth would have been on the table.

SEC football power rankings 2026: Texas, Georgia lead the way as Alabama slides down league’s pecking order

Brandon Marcello

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The Tennessee-Vanderbilt football rivalry might have a distinct Nashville flavor in 2026.

On Feb. 20, a Knoxville judge denied a preliminary injunction for Joey Aguilar, which would have allowed him to return to the Volunteers next season. Aguilar, who led the SEC with 3,565 passing yards in 2025, was hoping to get another year of NCAA eligibility. He could appeal the decision, but unless he wins, his college football career would be over.

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With Aguilar almost certainly headed to the NFL, the battle to be Tennessee’s next starting quarterback is open between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, five-star freshman Faizon Brandon and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub.

MacIntyre, the lone returner, was a four-star recruit from Brentwood Academy in the class of 2024. If he wins the job, he might end up facing another Nashville area prep star in Jared Curtis, a five-star recruit from Nashville Christian who is set for his first season with the Commodores this fall.

George MacIntyre stats at Tennessee

The 6-foot-6, 195-pound MacIntyre was a three-year starter at BA from 2022-24, throwing for 8,293 yards and 62 touchdowns during his career. He led the Eagles to the TSSAA Division II-AA semifinals twice. He was the No. 13 quarterback and No. 151 recruit in the country, per the 247Sports Composite, when he signed with the Vols in December 2024.

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Last season, MacIntyre appeared in two games, playing late in blowout wins over East Tennessee State and New Mexico State. He completed seven of nine passes for 69 yards and took 18 snaps.

MORE: What to know about George MacIntyre, possible Tennessee starting QB in 2026

George MacIntyre vs Faizon Brandon, Ryan Staub

Brandon, an early enrollee from Greensboro, North Carolina, will compete with MacIntyre for the starting role. The 6-4, 206-pounder was the No. 3 player and No….

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Following an incident that led NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to be suspended from his high school coaching duties, the Florida Senate passed a bill that would make his infraction legal. According to Local 10 News, The “Teddy Bridgewater bill” allows high school head coaches to use personal funds to provide financial assistance to their players, so long as they report what they spend.

The Florida High School Athletic Association suspended Bridgewater in September for the rest of the 2025-26 school year for providing impermissible benefits to athletes. Bridgewater coached Miami Northwestern High School football in 2024 and was set to lead the team in 2025 before he left the school to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Northwestern suspended Bridgewater in July after he revealed in a social media post that he spent $700 a week on Uber rides for his players during the 2024 season. He also acknowledged covering transportation, team-branded clothing, meals and recovery-related expenses at combined costs of about $27,000. Bridgewater in that post asked for donations to the Northwestern football program.

If Senate Bill 178 becomes law, coaches in Florida would be permitted to make such personal expenditures. A similar bill is also currently moving through the Florida House.

“I’m protective, and I’m a father first before anything,” Bridgewater said last season upon signing with the Buccaneers. “And when I decided to coach, those players became my sons. And I wanted to make sure that I just protected them in the best way that I can. I think that’s what came about.

“Miami Northwestern’s in a tough neighborhood and sometimes things can happen when the kids are walking home and things like that. So I was just trying to protect them and give them…

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