Category: College Football

Florida State and Clemson voted to agree on settling their four ongoing lawsuits against the ACC and a new revenue-distribution strategy Tuesday, CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello has confirmed. The ACC Board of Directors also approved the measure earlier in the day, bringing litigation between the conference and two of its most prominent member institutions to an end. 

“Today’s resolution begins the next chapter of this storied league and further solidifies the ACC as a premier conference,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. “As we look ahead to our collective long-term future, I want to express my deepest appreciation to the ACC Board of Directors for its ongoing leadership, patience and dedication throughout this process. The league has competed at the highest level for more than 70 years and this new structure demonstrates the ACC embracing innovation and further incentivizing our membership based on competition and viewership results. The settlements, coupled with the ACC’s continued partnership with ESPN, allow us to focus on our collective future — including Clemson and Florida State — united in an 18-member conference demonstrating the best in intercollegiate athletics.”

ESPN recently exercised its opt-in clause with the ACC, extending its media rights deal with the conference through 2036 while providing some relief for the ACC through turbulent times. The new revenue-distribution strategy, as proposed in the settlement, would distribute 40% of the television money evenly through the 14 longstanding ACC members — including Florida State and Clemson — with 60% of the revenue distributed on a ratings-based formula from the past five years. 

In addition, the total cost to exit the ACC is expected to decline by $18 million…

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Maybe it was just never meant to be. After weeks of talks among the University of North Carolina, head football coach Bill Belichick and NFL Films, the Tar Heels will not be the subject of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” offseason series, sources tell CBS Sports.

“NFL Films had discussions with Coach Belichick and UNC about appearing on Hard Knocks this offseason but couldn’t reach an agreement,” a spokesperson for NFL Media, which includes NFL Films, told CBS Sports on Tuesday.

As CBS Sports reported late last week, all sides felt they were close on a deal. But a contract had not been struck yet, though the belief was they’d eventually get there. Sources say creative control was at the center of the sides being unable to reach an agreement.

Considering where we are in the NFL calendar, as well as the fact that NFL Films had turned to a college program for the first time ever, it is unlikely any NFL team will participate in the offseason edition of the series.

There were no takers in the NFL after last year’s inaugural run with the New York Giants ahead of what turned into a disastrous 3-14 season. NFL free agency begins on March 12, which doesn’t give the group enough time to find a team that would open its doors for what is the most crucial part of the offseason series.

Bill Belichick introduces first staff at North Carolina: Family members, ex-players among names to know

Shehan Jeyarajah

An announcement regarding the teams participating in the training camp and/or in-season “Hard Knocks” series could be revealed as early as the…

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Maryland football already has one five-star prospect committed to its 2026 recruiting class, and it could soon add another.

St. Frances defensive end Zion Elee pledged his commitment to the program in December, although he has visited other programs after his verbal declaration. Elee, a top target for Penn State, Auburn and other high-end Power Four programs, has since canceled his other spring visits.

“My recruitment is closed,” Elee posted on X on Feb. 21.

Another five-star Baltimore native could soon be on his way to College Park. Georgetown Prep star Immanuel Iheanacho plans to visit both Maryland and Oregon this month, according to On3 Sports, as the two Big Ten programs jockey for the star offensive lineman’s future services. Iheanacho has yet to verbally commit to a program, but he told On3 that Mike Locksley and the Terps are currently his favorite school among the dozens who have recruited him.

The prospect has the potential to start as a true freshman, as his level of athleticism at 6-foot-7 and 350 pounds is rare. He moves well for his size, and he’s one of the strongest high schoolers in the country — he recently posted a social media of himself deadlifting 700 pounds. Like Elee, he’s viewed as a future professional.

“Could potentially become an immediate impact player for a college football playoff contender in the run game,” 247Sports analyst Hudson Standish writes on Iheanacho’s recruiting profile. “Should be viewed as an intriguing option at RT or IOL with plenty of long-term NFL Draft upside that pairs nicely with ready to contribute heft.”

If Maryland earns the commitment of Iheanacho, it will mark the first time in program history Maryland lands two five-star recruits in the same class. The historic recruiting efforts — Maryland had a top-25 class in 2025, which included star…

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Pittsburgh freshman cornerback Mason Alexander died in a car accident in his hometown of Fishers, Indiana, according to multiple reports. Alexander was 18 years old, and was set to take part in his first spring practice with the program. 

According to police, Alexander was the passenger when the BMW he was riding in attempted to pass a car. The driver quickly realized there was a car coming from the other direction and swerved to avoid a collision, but veered off the road and hit a tree, causing the car to catch fire. Alexander was declared dead at the scene. 

Alexander was a three-star recruit from Hamilton Southeastern High School, outside of Indianapolis. He was rated among the best players in Pitt’s 2025 recruiting class after he committed to the program during the early signing period, picking the Panthers over offers from Auburn, Florida and Oregon, among others. Alexander posted 52 tackles and one interception as a senior. 

Former high school teammate Peyton Daniels, who now plays defensive back at Butler, paid tribute to Alexander on social media. 

“Mason lit up every room he was in,” Daniels wrote. “Brought joy and playfulness to everything and everyone. He could change the entire direction of your day with one interaction. Mason is the embodiment of exceptional. Rest Easy 15.” 

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The Pittsburgh Panthers football team is grappling with the sudden and tragic loss of freshman cornerback, Mason Alexander, who died in a car accident on Saturday.

According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Alexander, 18, was a passenger in a 2016 BMW traveling on Florida Road in his hometown of Fishers, Indiana. The driver of the car attempted to pass another vehicle but swerved to avoid a head-on collision after entering the northbound lane. This maneuver caused the BMW to veer off the road and crash into a tree, resulting in a fire. When first responders arrived at the scene, Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene around 9 p.m. ET.

Alexander graduated early from Hamilton Southeastern High School in Indiana and enrolled at Pitt in January.

“Mason is a special young man who is going to be dearly missed,” Hamilton Southeastern football coach Michael Kelly said Sunday morning. “To be honest, I don’t know if I’m still in shock but the hardest thing to think about is how things can happen to people, especially somebody like him. He had a presence and positivity about him that was unique. He didn’t think he was bigger than life in any way, and he had next level talent.”

Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi shares condolences

Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi released a statement following the news of Alexander’s passing, expressing his deep sorrow and acknowledging the impact of this tragic loss on the team.

“I received a call this morning that no parent, teacher or coach ever wants to get – the news of the sudden loss of a young and promising life. Our entire program is shocked and deeply sadden to learn of Mason Alexander’s passing,” Narduzzi wrote.

Alexander was one of the top recruits in the country as a cornerback. He was a two-time all-state selection and had offers from several top programs before picking…

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Spring football will soon get underway across the country as college football teams begin preparations for the 2025 season. That means position battles, transfer arrivals and freshman debuts. It will also mean, at least at some places, a traditional spring game! (More on that in a second.)

The sport is rapidly changing, highlighted last season as fans enjoyed the first season of the 12-team College Football Playoff. With one season of experience on how that system plays out from the beginning of the regular season through the College Football Playoff National Championship, there are more questions than ever during the spring sessions as teams around the country vie for one of the 12 spots come December. 

To get ready for the wave of practices across the country, these are 10 national storylines we’re following this spring.

1. Uh, who’s going to play a spring game?

Spring practice is going to happen across the country; coaches won’t waste their 15 sessions. But the institution that is the spring game? It’s very much in danger. Nebraska, Ohio State, Texas, USC and Florida State are among the teams to cancel their spring game thus far. Their reasons vary as to why. Florida State is doing renovations on Doak Campbell Stadium; Texas cited concerns with player workload after back-to-back CFB Playoff runs; and Nebraska … well, Matt Rhule doesn’t want his players poached in the transfer portal.

Expect more teams to join that list over the coming weeks and months as colleges shift toward NFL-like offseasons with OTAs and training sessions replacing the traditional spring practice regime.

Hopefully the schools that cancel figure out a way to still engage with fans — be it by opening practices to the public or via fan events. Spring games are…

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The Oklahoma Sooners are in a place they haven’t been in for quite some time. They’re coming off of just their second losing season since 1998. The other thing that’s unfamiliar is that their head coach likely enters 2025 on the hot seat.

Not everything that happened in 2024 was Venables’ fault, but as the Hall of Famer Bill Parcells once said, you are what your record says you are. And in two of the last three seasons, the Sooners have been a losing football team. That’s why ESPN’s Bill Connelly included Venables among head coaches with the most to prove in 2025.

Oklahoma has suffered just two losing seasons in the past 26 years, and Brent Venables was in charge for both of them. The Sooners faced a ridiculous schedule during last season’s 6-7 campaign, and they enjoyed a bright spot with their late-November pummeling of Alabama. But that was their only win over an FBS opponent after September, and they fielded their worst offense of the 21st century. Venables has recruited well enough to fend off any major hot seat issues, but you eventually have to turn recruiting potential into on-field production, and OU’s schedule won’t get any easier in his fourth season in charge. – Connelly, ESPN

Venables was mentioned along with notable head coaches James Franklin, Brian Kelly, Lincoln Riley (!!!), Bill Belichick, and Cal’s Justin Wilcox.

As optimistic as I might be about the Oklahoma Sooners in 2025, it’s 100% a prove-it year for Venables and the program. Year one in the SEC wasn’t kind to the Oklahoma Sooners. A second year of struggling in their new home will turn the heat up on the head coach’s hot seat.

He’s taken an aggressive approach to fixing the issues that plagued the team last year by bringing in an up and coming offensive coordinator and the best quarterback in the transfer portal to right everything that went…

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Bill Belichick being hired as North Carolina coach shocked the football world. His next move is another stunner.

Belichick and UNC football are expected to participate in HBO’s upcoming offseason “Hard Knocks” series, multiple sources tell CBS Sports. The deal has not been signed with the university, but all indications are it will be completed. Front Office Sports first reported the news on Friday. 

It will be the first time “Hard Knocks” has collaborated with a college football program, and perhaps no team is more interesting heading into the 2025 season than Belichick’s Tar Heels. Belichick, who for decades displayed a gruff demeanor with the media as coach of the New England Patriots, now continues his media blitz that began after his parting from the NFL.

“Hard Knocks” expanded its series in recent years to feature not only training camp but in-season and offseason series as well. Last year, the New York Giants were highlighted in the inaugural offseason “Hard Knocks,” and many believed the series would be one-and-done.

The show followed the Giants as they made the decision to not re-sign star running back Saquon Barkley, and it captured conversations around quarterback Daniel Jones and the team’s path to the draft. While it made for captivating sports television, many around the league thought it showed too many intimate moments of a team’s inner workings.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen said this week at the NFL Scouting Combine that no team had reached out to him about participating in the offseason “Hard Knocks.” 

“I think I know what I would tell them” Schoen said with a laugh, with the implication being that he would tell the team to decline.

There have been rumors that no team wanted to participate in the…

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