To truly appreciate where you're going in life, you often have to look at where you've been.   In...

<p>To truly appreciate where you're going in life, you often have to look at where you've been. </p><p>In the case of Indiana football, revisiting the past should come with a parental advisory warning.</p><p>The Hoosiers haven't just been bad, they've been the worst ... literally. Indiana entered the 2025 season with the most losses ever at the FBS level and sported a laughable 1-72 record against AP top-five teams.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>While most programs reserve significant space, or even a room, for trophies and awards in their football facilities, Indiana needed only a single shelf. With just two Big Ten titles and three bowl wins in 127 seasons, the Hoosiers' trophy collection was hardly robust.</p><p>Only Northwestern and Maryland drew fewer fans per game than Indiana in 2023, the year before it hired Curt Cignetti. There's a reason the football season in Bloomington used to last just two months, often feeling like a brief prelude to the beloved Hoosiers' basketball campaign.</p><p>Cignetti became the 23rd head coach in program history two years ago. Not one of the previous 22 left the job with a winning record. </p><p>So how the hell are we just days away from the lowly Hoosiers taking the field in Miami as the only undefeated team with a shot at the national title?</p><p>All roads lead back to Cignetti.</p><p>With a name and demeanor that suggest he's a police captain in a '90s procedural drama, Cignetti brought a boatload of players to Indiana from his previous stop at James Madison. The personnel provided an instant boost to the roster, but it may not have been the most important thing the coach arrived with.</p><p>Cignetti exudes an overwhelming confidence that dominates the room every time he speaks. That self-assurance is what made him comfortable enough on the day he was hired to walk onto the Indiana basketball court during a timeout and <a href="https://x.com/JeffRabjohns/status/1730744811659882572?s=20">loudly proclaim</a> over the microphone, "Purdue sucks, but so does Michigan and Ohio State."</p><p><span style="margin:0px; padding:0px; text-align:left">Just 20 days later, at a National Signing Day press conference, Cignetti dropped his now-iconic "<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Hoosier_Review/status/1958498290028138915?s=20">I win, Google me</a>" line - a phrase we've been hearing on loop after a reporter asked him how he attracts recruits.</span></p><p>OK, Curt. First, you piqued our curiosity; now, you have our attention.</p><p>The bombastic comments got people talking about Indiana football and proved that few people in the sport knew how to go viral better than Cignetti, even though he was born in 1961.</p><p>While those clips continue to follow Cignetti, something he said during this year's narrow win at Penn State revealed how he's been able to flip the narrative around Indiana from "doormat" to "national powerhouse."</p><p>The Hoosiers were 0-13 all time at Beaver Stadium, a stat Fox Sports' Jenny Taft asked Cignetti about before kickoff. His response was simple, brief, and incredibly telling.</p><p>"This team has never played here."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Nothing concerns me"<a href="https://twitter.com/JennyTaft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JennyTaft</a> talks with <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianaFootball</a>'s Curt Cignetti before kickoff <a href="https://t.co/5lWk0OrHVB">pic.twitter.com/5lWk0OrHVB</a></p>— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1987206624898134023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Using just six words, Cignetti made it clear that this isn't the same Indiana program burdened by a dismal 534-715-44 overall record. Under his leadership, these Hoosiers are the best team in college football, boasting a sparkling 26-2 mark.</p><p>There might be 125 years of losing on Indiana's resume, but that was in the B.C. era (Before Cignetti). Although the IU remains on the helmet, this ain't your father's, grandfather's, or great-grandfather's Hoosiers.</p><p>Cignetti seems hell-bent on using every snap to prove that Indiana belongs, making the program's previous century-plus of losing irrelevant. That's especially evident in how the Hoosiers finish blowout wins. There's no letup whatsoever, with Cignetti's trademark scowl on the sideline indicating he's offended by anything less than a 30-point margin.</p><p>That's how you build up the largest point differential in the CFP era.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="ro" dir="ltr">Largest Point Differential in a Single Season in CFP Era<br><br>1. 2025 Indiana +473<br>2. 2018 Clemson +467<br>3. 2019 Ohio St +464<br>4. 2019 Clemson +456<br>5. 2021 Georgia +426<br>6. 2018 Alabama +413<br>7. 2022 Georgia +402<br>8. 2019 LSU +398<br>9. 2023 Oregon +388<br>10. 2016 Alabama +387<br>10. 2025 Texas… <a href="https://t.co/RgRdr8Ic0A">pic.twitter.com/RgRdr8Ic0A</a></p>— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomFornelli/status/2009866092181655663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, LSU. That's the type of company Indiana now finds itself in. </p><p>Only Miami stands in the way of the first perfect season in the 12-team playoff era, a first national championship for Indiana, and perhaps the most unbelievable turnaround in the history of college sports.</p><p>If Cignetti and the Hoosiers seal the deal, Hollywood executives should be rushing to make the <a href="https://x.com/espn/status/2006889460332376512?s=20">coach's comments</a> after the Rose Bowl win a reality.</p><p>"It would be a helluva movie."</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34127381/related

Indiana shouldn't be here. Then Cignetti showed up

The NCAA transfer portal is officially open. Follow along for analysis of all major transactions....

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CFB portal analysis: LSU, Oregon land big-time QBs 

The transfer-portal period is in full swing with over 6,000 student-athletes currently listed as ...

<p><em>The transfer-portal period is in full swing with over 6,000 student-athletes currently listed as potentially looking for a new home. Follow where the top players have committed and who is still unsigned with a week to go.</em></p><p><em>*All rankings from <a href="https://247sports.com/season/2026-football/transferportaltop/">247 Sports</a></em></p><p><strong>Jump to:</strong><br><a href="#Quarterbacks">Quarterbacks</a> | <a href="#Running%20backs">Running backs</a> | <a href="#Wide%20receivers">Wide receivers </a>| <a href="#Defense">Defense</a></p><h3><a id="Quarterbacks" name="Quarterbacks">Quarterbacks</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Old School</th>
<th>New School</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Sam Leavitt</td>
<td>Arizona State</td>
<td>LSU</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Brendan Sorsby</td>
<td>Cincinnati</td>
<td>Texas Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Drew Mestemaker</td>
<td>North Texas</td>
<td>Oklahoma State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>DJ Lagway</td>
<td>Florida</td>
<td>Baylor</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Dylan Raiola</td>
<td>Nebraska</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Husan Longstreet</td>
<td>USC</td>
<td>LSU</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Deuce Knight</td>
<td>Auburn</td>
<td>Ole Miss</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Byrum Brown</td>
<td>USF</td>
<td>Auburn</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Rocco Becht</td>
<td>Iowa State</td>
<td>Penn State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Josh Hoover</td>
<td>TCU</td>
<td>Indiana</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Austin Simmons</td>
<td>Ole Miss</td>
<td>Missouri</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Ethan Grunkemeyer</td>
<td>Penn State</td>
<td>Virginia Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Kenny Minchey</td>
<td>Notre Dame</td>
<td>Kentucky</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Aidan Chiles</td>
<td>Michigan State</td>
<td>Northwestern</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Beau Pribula</td>
<td>Missouri</td>
<td>Virginia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Aaron Philo</td>
<td>Georgia Tech</td>
<td>Florida</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Lincoln Kienholz</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
<td>Louisville</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Cutter Boley</td>
<td>Kentucky</td>
<td>Arizona State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Katin Houser</td>
<td>ECU</td>
<td>Illinois</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Colton Joseph</td>
<td>ODU</td>
<td>Wisconsin</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3><a id="Running backs" name="Running%20backs">Running backs</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Old School</th>
<th>New School</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Caleb Hawkins</td>
<td>North Texas</td>
<td>Oklahoma State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Hollywood Smothers</td>
<td>NC State</td>
<td>Texas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Quintrevion Wisner</td>
<td>Texas</td>
<td>Florida State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Justice Haynes</td>
<td>Michigan</td>
<td>Georgia Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Raleek Brown</td>
<td>Arizona State</td>
<td>Texas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Adam Mohammed</td>
<td>Washington</td>
<td>Cal</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Bryson Washington</td>
<td>Baylor</td>
<td>Auburn</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Makhi Frazier</td>
<td>Michigan State</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>London Montgomery</td>
<td>ECU</td>
<td>Florida</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>CJ Baxter</td>
<td>Texas</td>
<td>Kentucky</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Dylan Edwards</td>
<td>Kansas State</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Turbo Richard</td>
<td>Boston College</td>
<td>Indiana</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Talor Tatum</td>
<td>Oklahoma</td>
<td>Michigan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Makhi Hughes</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
<td>Houston</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>James Peoples</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
<td>Penn State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Abu Sama III</td>
<td>Iowa State</td>
<td>Wisconsin</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Carson Hansen</td>
<td>Iowa State</td>
<td>Penn State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Jerrick Gibson</td>
<td>Texas</td>
<td>Purdue</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3><a id="Wide receivers" name="Wide%20receivers">Wide receivers</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Old School</th>
<th>New School</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Cam Coleman</td>
<td>Auburn</td>
<td>Texas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Isaiah Horton</td>
<td>Alabama</td>
<td>Texas A&amp;M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Omarion Miller</td>
<td>Colorado</td>
<td>Arizona State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Reed Harris</td>
<td>Boston College</td>
<td>Arizona State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>DeAndre Moore Jr.</td>
<td>Texas</td>
<td> Colorado</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Darrell Gill Jr.</td>
<td>Syracuse</td>
<td>Ole Miss</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Isiah Canion</td>
<td>Georgia Tech</td>
<td>Georgia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Eric Singleton Jr.</td>
<td>Auburn</td>
<td>Florida</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Nick Marsh</td>
<td>Michigan State</td>
<td>Indiana</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Terrell Anderson</td>
<td>NC State</td>
<td>USC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Quincy Porter</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
<td>Notre Dame</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Eugene Wilson III</td>
<td>Florida</td>
<td>LSU</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Que'Sean Brown</td>
<td>Duke</td>
<td>Virginia Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Tre Richardson</td>
<td>Vanderbilt</td>
<td>Louisville</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Chase Hendricks</td>
<td>Ohio</td>
<td>Cal</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Wyatt Young</td>
<td>North Texas</td>
<td>Oklahoma State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Chase Sowell</td>
<td>Iowa State</td>
<td>Penn State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Trell Harris</td>
<td>Virginia</td>
<td>Oklahoma</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Marquis Johnson</td>
<td>Missouri</td>
<td>Mississippi State</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3><a id="Defense" name="Defense">Defensive players</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Player (position)</th>
<th>Old School</th>
<th>New School</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Princewill Umanmielen (EDGE)</td>
<td>Ole Miss</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Chaz Coleman (EDGE)</td>
<td>Penn State</td>
<td>Tennessee</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Damon Wilson II (EDGE)</td>
<td>Missouri</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>James Smith (DL)</td>
<td>Alabama</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Mateen Ibirogba (DL)</td>
<td>Wake Forest</td>
<td>Texas Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Koi Perich (S)</td>
<td>Minnesota</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Tionne Gray (DL)</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
<td>Notre Dame</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Terrance Green (DL)</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Devan Thompkins (DL)</td>
<td>USC</td>
<td>Alabama</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Amaris Williams (EDGE)</td>
<td>Auburn</td>
<td>Georgia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Tobi Osunsanmi (EDGE)</td>
<td>Kansas State</td>
<td>Indiana</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Ty Benefield (S)</td>
<td>Boise State</td>
<td>LSU</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Xavier Gilliam (DL)</td>
<td>Penn State</td>
<td>Tennessee</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Rickey Gibson III (CB)</td>
<td>Tennessee</td>
<td>Texas A&amp;M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Jontez Williams (CB)</td>
<td>Iowa State</td>
<td>USC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Smith Snowden (CB)</td>
<td>Utah</td>
<td>Michigan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Tomiwa Durojaiye (DL)</td>
<td>Illinois</td>
<td>South Carolina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Francis Brewu (DL)</td>
<td>Pitt</td>
<td>Notre Dame</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Keon Keeley (EDGE)</td>
<td>Alabama</td>
<td>Notre Dame</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Qua Russaw (EDGE)</td>
<td>Alabama</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>John Henry Daley (EDGE)</td>
<td>Utah</td>
<td>Michigan</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

TEMPE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 25: Sam Leavitt #10 of the Arizona State Sun Devils warms up before the NCAAF game at Mountain America Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. The Cougars defeated the Sun Devils 24-16.

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Portal tracker: Leavitt headlines top transfer commitments 

The Green Bay Packers are expected to work with Matt LaFleur on a new deal to keep the head coach...

<p>The Green Bay Packers are expected to work with Matt LaFleur on a new deal to keep the head coach with the club, sources told <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2010709337098834030?s=20">ESPN's Adam Schefter.</a></p><p>The Packers' season ended Saturday after the Chicago Bears erased a 21-3 deficit and won with a touchdown in the dying minutes. Green Bay had just 19 yards of offense on its first four drives of the second half, allowing the Bears to get back into the game.</p><p>LaFleur, who has one year left on his current contract, has led the Packers since 2019, guiding them to six playoff appearances. However, Green Bay has been eliminated in the wild-card round in each of the past two seasons and hasn't reached the NFC Championship Game since 2020.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I definitely think Matt should be the head coach," quarterback Jordan Love <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3452709" href="https://thescore.com/news/3452709">said</a> following Saturday night's game. "I've got a lot of love for Matt, and I think he does a good job."</p><p>Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who was hired in 2025, is interviewing for head coaching jobs this cycle.</p><p>LaFleur has posted a 76-40-1 regular-season record since joining Green Bay after spending the 2018 season as the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator. The Packers' offense ranks third in offensive touchdowns and 11th in yards over LaFleur's tenure, according to TruMedia.</p>

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, at Lambeau Field on November 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

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Report: Packers expected to keep LaFleur on new deal

College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the CFP semifinals, during whi...

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the CFP semifinals, during which Indiana and Miami booked spots in the national championship game.</em></p><p><strong>Jump to</strong>:<br><a href="#indiana">Indiana</a> | <a href="#oregon">Oregon</a> | <a href="#miami">Miami</a> | <a href="#Miss">Ole Miss</a></p><h3>
<a id="indiana" name="indiana">Old</a> Indiana has mastered the sport</h3><p>Malcolm Gladwell pitched a rule in his book "Outliers" that suggests 10,000 hours of deliberate practice at one thing is necessary to master a skill at a world-class level. The Indiana football team might be the latest example of such a phenomenon.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The massive gulf in performance between the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks was the biggest discrepancy in the 56-22 blowout Friday, but the second biggest might be the rating of the rosters coming out of high school. Oregon dominates recruiting at a national level, routinely ranking among the best classes in the nation. Its roster includes 55 players who were four- or five-star recruits entering college. Indiana has eight.</p><p>There are plenty of ways the Hoosiers narrowed that talent gap, but one is fairly basic: In the world of college football, Indiana is really, really old. The average age of the its roster is almost 23, with a number of significant pieces - especially on offense - playing their third and fourth collegiate season.</p><p>Four of the five starting offensive linemen who limited Oregon to just one sack are in at least their fourth season. The senior running back tandem of Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black combined for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wideout Elijah Sarratt killed the Ducks' secondary with death by back-shoulder receptions, finishing with seven catches for 75 yards and two scores.</p><p>The catalyst for the whole operation is the Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza. The Cal transfer is in his fourth collegiate season and has clearly mastered the sport at this level. Mendoza, whose five touchdowns on the night nearly doubled the amount of incompletions he threw, finished 17-of-20 in a standout showing. He's now completed an absurd 31-of-36 passes in the playoff with eight touchdowns against zero interceptions.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is Fernando Mendoza’s 5th game this year with more TD’s than incompletions <br><br>No other QB in college football has done that more than twice this century</p>— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) <a href="https://twitter.com/BTNDaveRevsine/status/2009837275253821646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>If that isn't mastery, I don't know what is.</p><h3>'We're whipping them up front'</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817027/cropped_GettyImages-2255480877.jpg?ts=1768018842" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817027/w220xh124_GettyImages-2255480877.jpg?ts=1768018842 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817027/w320xh180_GettyImages-2255480877.jpg?ts=1768018842 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817027/w640xh360_GettyImages-2255480877.jpg?ts=1768018842 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817027/w768xh432_GettyImages-2255480877.jpg?ts=1768018842 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817027/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2255480877.jpg?ts=1768018842 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The man who gave us "<a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/uGQi9HsKWhY?si=OsSRZTL-mmyJ_6O7">I win. Google me.</a>" and "<a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/r9BVt0Y0MoI?si=wWirGxzKLbfLCeKo">Purdue sucks, but so does Michigan and Ohio State</a>" added another banger to his endless list of quotes on his way to the locker room at halftime.</p><p>"Anytime the quarterback gets hit, he's less effective," Cignetti said. "And we're whipping them up front."</p><p>Let's break down what exactly "whipping them up front" means by looking at Indiana's dominant pass-rush.</p><ul>
<li>3 sacks on 14 dropbacks in 1st half of Peach Bowl</li>
<li>6 sacks on 34 dropbacks in October meeting</li>
</ul><p>We'll save you the math: That's nine sacks for the Hoosiers on only 48 dropbacks through three halves of football versus the Ducks. Considering Indiana also generated two fumbles and a pick-6 in the opening half Friday, disaster essentially hit Oregon's offense every five dropbacks in these matchups.</p><p>The latest performance moved Indiana into second nationally with 45 sacks on the season. The only team with more happens to be Miami, its upcoming opponent in the national title game.</p><p>"Whipping them up front" indeed.</p><h3>
<a id="oregon" name="oregon">Oregon</a> needed NFL-caliber Moore</h3><p>Entering Friday's contest, there was debate whether Mendoza or Dante Moore will be the top pick in April's NFL Draft. Perhaps the only question left is which classes Moore will take at Oregon in the fall. With injuries ravaging the Ducks' running back room, Moore needed an all-time performance to keep his team in the fight. It became clear from the opening play of the game that it wouldn't happen.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THAT’S HOW YOU START A BALL GAME🤯<br><br>📺ESPN <a href="https://t.co/QnGqSdPKTQ">pic.twitter.com/QnGqSdPKTQ</a></p>— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBPlayoff/status/2009790791074623954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2026</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The performance isn't all on Moore. We touched on his offensive line's inability to block the pass rush earlier. The Ducks were missing three of their top four running backs. However, we only need to rewind 24 hours to Trinidad Chambliss' performance in the Fiesta Bowl to see how an elite quarterback operates in the face of immense pressure. Moore too often shrunk in big moments, turning the ball over three times. Those turnovers led to 21 points for relentless Indiana and essentially decided this contest by half.</p><h3>Rematches aren't Oregon's thing</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817039/cropped_GettyImages-2255467253.jpg?ts=1768023853" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817039/w220xh124_GettyImages-2255467253.jpg?ts=1768023853 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817039/w320xh180_GettyImages-2255467253.jpg?ts=1768023853 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817039/w640xh360_GettyImages-2255467253.jpg?ts=1768023853 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817039/w768xh432_GettyImages-2255467253.jpg?ts=1768023853 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817039/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2255467253.jpg?ts=1768023853 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Todd Kirkland / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>We hear plenty of chatter in football circles about how hard it is to play a team twice in the same season. That may be true in many cases, unless the opposition has a giant 'O' on its helmet and a Duck on the sideline. Dan Lanning is unquestionably one of the top coaches in the sport, but we now have a three-year sample of failure in rematches to suggest there may be an issue.</p><p>Two separate three-point losses to Washington in the final year of the Pac-12 kept the Ducks out of the four-team playoff two seasons ago. Last year ended in equally embarrassing fashion to Friday's showing, with Ohio State racing out to a 34-8 halftime lead in the playoff before finishing off a 20-point win. That came after Oregon actually beat the Buckeyes earlier in the season.</p><p>Friday was Lanning's second shot at Indiana this season after the Hoosiers notched one of the program's biggest wins in recent memory in October. While the earlier contest was a close affair, the Peach Bowl was the opposite with the Indiana pass-rush once again wrecking the entire game plan. The ensuing 34-point blowout means the Ducks have been outscored 97-43 in their last two rematches - both CFP games.</p><p>It's fair to point out that a rematch in college football usually means you have progressed to at least the conference title game. Ohio State won the national championship last year and Indiana is now favored to do the same this year. There's certainly no shame in losing to either opponent. However, Oregon hasn't even been close in either rematch.</p><p>Lanning had the added distraction this time around of both coordinators having taken head-coaching jobs following the regular season. That presented the awkward scenario where both were trying to do two jobs over the past few weeks. That cannot be the entire blame for the performance, but it's fair to point out Indiana retained its coaching staff and didn't have to deal with the same issue.</p><p>Regardless, Oregon will have to address the rematch issue going forward, as the 12-team playoff format makes it very likely this could become an annual thing for the top programs in the country.</p><h3>
<a id="miami" name="miami">Beck</a> delivers in the moment</h3><p>It was 361 days ago that Carson Beck announced he was withdrawing from the NFL draft and transferring from Georgia to Miami. The price tag was a reported $3.2 million - second only to Duke's Darian Mensah among quarterbacks. Beck's been steady, but unspectacular, thus far in the Hurricanes' season, but the game-winning drive against Ole Miss was proof the money was well spent by Miami.</p><p>Down by three with 3:13 to play, Beck took the Canes 75 yards in 15 plays before delivering an all-time Miami moment to send the team back to the national title game for the first time since 2003.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MIAMI WITH A SPOT IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE! 🔥 <br><br>Canes takes the lead with 18 seconds left 😳 <a href="https://t.co/PI9RRBqGau">pic.twitter.com/PI9RRBqGau</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/2009481525218119841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Beck was clutch with a laser over the middle to convert a crucial 3rd-and-10 on Ole Miss' 35-yard line. That kept the drive going with the potential of a game-winning touchdown instead of a tying field goal - a critical situation considering Trinidad Chambliss had spent the 4th quarter lighting up the Miami defense. Another 11-yard completion to set up 1st-and-goal, and all that was left was Beck's walk-in touchdown.</p><p>Look, it's neither pretty nor comfortable most of the time with Beck. He spent a large part of the contest giving Miami fans heart palpations with numerous near-interceptions. A lot of his work is done on quick outs or screen passes to avoid throwing into coverage down the field. That can limit the passing attack, but when Malachi Toney is one of your receivers, a <a href="https://x.com/accnetwork/status/2009475638961303649?s=20">3-yard pass can become a 36-yard touchdown</a> real quick.</p><p>But, when Beck was needed the most, he stepped up and played like the extremely experienced player he is. An unflappable face in the biggest situation of the season was exactly what Mario Cristobal - not exactly the calmest man on the sideline - needed in the moment. Beck gave him that and sent the Canes home to play for a long-awaited national title.</p><h3>
<a id="Miss" name="Miss">You</a> can't shake this Ole Miss team</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816899/cropped_GettyImages-2255310347.jpg?ts=1767939530" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816899/w220xh124_GettyImages-2255310347.jpg?ts=1767939530 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816899/w320xh180_GettyImages-2255310347.jpg?ts=1767939530 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816899/w640xh360_GettyImages-2255310347.jpg?ts=1767939530 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816899/w768xh432_GettyImages-2255310347.jpg?ts=1767939530 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816899/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2255310347.jpg?ts=1767939530 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Norm Hall / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made the catchphrase "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6z10SExCc0">It doesn't matter!</a>" famous during his legendary wrestling career. While he played his college football for Miami, it's Ole Miss' attitude during its playoff run that can best be described by those words.</p><p>We won't re-litigate Lane Kiffin's choice to leave for a conference rival <em>before</em> the playoff and take a number of assistants with him. Sure, he loaned a number of those coaches back, but they have been pulling double duty flying back and forth between Baton Rouge and Oxford the past week. That left Pete Golding in a position he'd never been before - head football coach. Yep, a reminder that Golding's first game as the boss <em>came in the playoffs</em><strong><em>.</em></strong></p><p>"It doesn't matter."</p><p>How about a 21-12 half-time deficit to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl - a team that had already beat you once this season?</p><p>"It doesn't matter."</p><p>A large portion of Thursday's game evolved into a "Boys vs. Men" type of match, with Miami imposing its will throughout. The Hurricanes had run the ball 41 different times through three quarters, while the Rebels had executed a total of just 37 plays. The time of possession looked like someone was fudging the math - an absurd 33:50 to 11:10 advantage for Miami.</p><p>"It doesn't matter."</p><p>An electric fourth quarter from both teams gave us an incredible show - and once again Ole Miss rose to the occasion thanks to Chambliss. With star running back Kewan Lacy hobbled, the D-II transfer recaptured the superhero role we've grown accustomed to. Chambliss led an 86-yard field goal drive, and then answered a Miami touchdown in style, taking Ole Miss 75 yards down the field for a go-ahead touchdown.</p><p>Surely, Miami's go-ahead touchdown with just 18 seconds to play was enough to finish the job and end the season for even the most resilient group in the country, right?</p><p>It <em>almost<strong> </strong></em>doesn't matter.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE LAST PLAY THAT SENT MIAMI TO THE CFP NATTY 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/xHXFD1iR2B">pic.twitter.com/xHXFD1iR2B</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/2009483492426502253?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Chambliss somehow drove the Rebels into Hail Mary range in 18 seconds for one final prayer at a victory. While it ultimately fell short, not one person out there will hold Ole Miss in anything but the highest regard for its incredible run.</p><p>This may have been the team that Kiffin built, but the attitude shown by the Rebels throughout the playoff was a unique brand that shows the page is officially turned to the Golding era.</p><h3>Miami tried so hard to lose this game</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816900/cropped_GettyImages-2255323802.jpg?ts=1767939587" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816900/w220xh124_GettyImages-2255323802.jpg?ts=1767939587 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816900/w320xh180_GettyImages-2255323802.jpg?ts=1767939587 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816900/w640xh360_GettyImages-2255323802.jpg?ts=1767939587 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816900/w768xh432_GettyImages-2255323802.jpg?ts=1767939587 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816900/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2255323802.jpg?ts=1767939587 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>For all the success Mario Cristobal has had in his coaching career - both with Miami and beyond - he still has a lingering reputation for dropping games his team really had no business losing. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, if you will.</p><p>It looked like that was once again happening in the Fiesta Bowl for very large stretches, with television cutaways to incredibly-stressed Miami fans coming fast and furious. It was certainly a shock coming off the heels of a virtually flawless performance against Ohio State last week.</p><p>The second half was a penalty and mistake-filled 30 minutes of football, that will now be long in the rearview after the dramatic win. Well, after you read this, of course.</p><p>The first thing that puzzled in the second half was one of the most inexplicable flea-flicker plays we've seen. Miami was moving the ball at will down the field to begin the half, reaching the Ole Miss 34-yard line after a 19-yard bruising run. One would think another running play over the tired and bruised Rebels defense would be the call. Nope! How about a flea-flicker that turned into a disastrous intentional grounding penalty leading to a missed field goal.</p><p>The next drive featured another crucial penalty that took a 3rd-and-3 into a 3rd-and-8 and forced a passing attempt to convert deep in Ole Miss territory. The result: a tipped pass that ended with an interception. Two very successful drives to open the second half that resulted in a total of zero points.</p><p>Two crucial 15-yard penalties - one for targeting and one for a late hit - helped sustain the next Ole Miss drive that eventually led to a touchdown. The targeting one seemed questionable, but there was no doubt on the late hit. Those were two of ten penalties on the night for a whopping 74 yards for Miami. </p><p>It didn't bite them on Thursday, but a return to the mistake-free football we saw versus Ohio State will be needed to win the national title.</p>

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CFB Blitz: Takeaways as Indiana, Miami advance to title game

The Demond Williams saga took another unexpected turn Thursday night, with the star quarterback a...

<p>The Demond Williams saga took another unexpected turn Thursday night, with the star quarterback announcing his return to Washington for his junior season.</p><p>"After thoughtful reflection with my family, I am excited to announce that I will continue my football journey at the University of Washington," Williams posted on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTRUfVVgd4H/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">Instagram</a>. "I am deeply grateful to my coaches, teammates, and everyone in the program for fostering an environment where I can thrive both as an athlete and an individual. I am fully committed and focused on contributing to what we are building."</p><p>The news comes just days after Williams shocked the college football world by stating his intention to enter the transfer portal despite signing a new deal with Washington only 48 hours earlier. The contract is worth $4 million, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47551538/agent-drops-demond-williams-jr-amid-qb-portal-dispute">Pete Thamel of ESPN</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Washington immediately began pursuing legal avenues to challenge Williams and enforce the contract. A provision in the deal states that Washington doesn't have to enter his name into the transfer portal or assist in a move to another school.</p><p>If Williams had followed through on his decision to leave, he - or his new school - would have owed Washington the value of his contract, sources told Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports. </p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">If he had left, Demond Williams or his new school would have owed Washington the value of his contract ($4 million), sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YahooSports</a>. His new school would have also incurred a reduction in its revenue-share pool next year by that amount, per House settlement guidelines <a href="https://t.co/bJN6y3OQOY">https://t.co/bJN6y3OQOY</a></p>— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) <a href="https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/2009431454854599014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Huskies coach Jedd Fisch followed Williams' statement with one of his own, pledging to support his quarterback as he rejoins the team.</p><p>"Demond and I have engaged in very honest and heartfelt conversations about his present and future. We both agree that the University of Washington is the best place for him to continue his academic, athletic and social development," Fisch <a href="https://x.com/UWAthletics/status/2009430418463055938?s=20">said on X</a>. "I appreciate Demond's statement. I support him, and we will work together to begin the process of repairing relationships and regaining the trust of the Husky community."</p><p>Williams' decision is certainly beneficial to the program, as he's one of the top returning quarterbacks in the Big Ten. He threw for 3,065 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season and rushed for 611 yards and an additional six scores.</p>

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. #2 of the Washington Huskies points up at the fans after throwing a scoring pass during the first half of the LA Bowl Game against the Boise State Broncos at Sofi Stadium on December 13, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

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Kyle Whittingham is bringing one of Utah's top players with him to Michigan in edge rusher John H...

<p>Kyle Whittingham is bringing one of Utah's top players with him to Michigan in edge rusher John Henry Daley.</p><p>The redshirt junior, who <a href="https://x.com/JohnHenryDaley1/status/2009427393249988868?s=20">announced</a> the move Thursday, was an absolute menace for Whittingham's defense in Salt Lake City, posting 11.5 sacks in 11 games this season.</p><p>Only five players in the country registered more sacks than Daley, with each of them appearing in more contests.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Daley, who was ranked by <a href="https://247sports.com/season/2026-football/transferportaltop/">247 Sports</a> as the ninth-best pass-rusher in the transfer portal, should immediately boost a Wolverines defense that ranked 54th nationally in sacks.</p>

PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 18: John Henry Daley #90 of the Utah Utes looks to the sideline for a play during the first half of their game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Provo, Utah.

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Michigan lands Utah star Daley

Aidan Chiles is remaining in the Big Ten, as the Michigan State transfer has committed to Northwe...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/players/184320" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/players/184320">Aidan Chiles</a> is remaining in the Big Ten, as the Michigan State transfer has committed to Northwestern, he announced Wednesday.</p><p>The quarterback is a significant addition for the Wildcats, who are aiming to bolster an offense that ranked among the bottom five in the Big Ten for scoring last season.</p><p>Northwestern hired Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator earlier in January and now brings on Chiles to run the attack.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Chiles threw for 1,392 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2025 before the Spartans benched him in favor of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/players/199137" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/players/199137">Alessio Milivojevic</a>.</p>

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 25: Aidan Chiles #2 of the Michigan State Spartans runs in action and looks to pass the ball against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 25, 2025 in East Lansing, Michigan.

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Chiles commits to Northwestern

Kewan Lacy is returning to Ole Miss for the 2026 season, the team announced Tuesday.  The All-SEC...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/players/197818" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/players/197818">Kewan Lacy</a> is returning to Ole Miss for the 2026 season, the team announced Tuesday.</p><p>The All-SEC running back signed for another year with the Rebels, sources told <a href="https://x.com/max_olson/status/2008398330813182332?s=20">Max Olson and Pete Thamel of ESPN</a> on Monday.</p><p>Lacy ranks third in the country with 1,464 rushing yards and has been a key catalyst in the Rebels' run to the College Football Playoff semifinal later this week.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Star quarterback <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/players/213701" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/players/213701">Trinidad Chambliss</a> announced Monday he'd also return to Ole Miss next season, provided he receives a waiver from the NCAA granting him a sixth year of eligibility.</p><p>Lacy and Chambliss were both perceived as potential transfers to LSU after former coach Lane Kiffin bolted to Baton Rouge following Ole Miss' regular season. The duo transferred to Oxford under Kiffin's watch and became stars in his offense.</p><p>However, both have now pledged commitments to remain with the Rebels, who face Kiffin in Week 3 next season.</p>

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 18: Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy (5) runs the ball during the college football game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Georgia Bulldogs on October 18th, 2025 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA.

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Lacy to return to Ole Miss in 2026

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It didn't officially come on Dec. 25, but Michigan fans got a late Christmas present in the form ...

<p>It didn't officially come on Dec. 25, but Michigan fans got a late Christmas present in the form of a future Hall-of-Fame coach.</p><p>The Wolverines hired Utah legend Kyle Whittingham as the program's new head coach on Friday, with the school <a href="https://mgoblue.com/news/2025/12/26/kyle-whittingham-named-michigans-j-ira-and-nicki-harris-family-head-football-coach">announcing</a> the addition of the 66-year-old on a five-year contract.</p><p>Whittingham's hire makes it 31 FBS jobs changing hands in a coaching carousel that opened in September and took more spins than a "Wheel of Fortune" marathon.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Even though Michigan's move came under extremely challenging circumstances at a very awkward time, the Wolverines somehow leave the cycle with perhaps the best hire of the list.</p><p>Who Whittingham brings with him to fill out his staff will be crucial, of course. But make no mistake, the veteran coach is a major upgrade from whatever setup Sherrone Moore was running before his shocking ouster at the start of December for an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.</p><p>Whittingham's resume represents an incredible run with one of the steadiest programs in history. Since taking over at Utah for Urban Meyer in 2005, the hard-nosed coach went a sparkling 177-88 with eight different 10-win seasons - including the current campaign.</p><p>As impressive as the facts and statistics are, Whittingham's best attribute for Michigan might be <em>who</em> he is, not <em>what</em> he is. He's a damn good football coach, but it's been a long time since a program just needed an adult in the room to come in and clean up a mess. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone in college football who fits that description better than Whittingham.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815389/cropped_GettyImages-2244904407.jpg?ts=1766811387" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815389/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244904407.jpg?ts=1766811387 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815389/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244904407.jpg?ts=1766811387 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815389/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244904407.jpg?ts=1766811387 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815389/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244904407.jpg?ts=1766811387 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815389/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244904407.jpg?ts=1766811387 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos / ISI Photos / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Netflix's documentary crew could take up permanent residence in Ann Arbor with the amount of material the Wolverines' football program has provided in recent years. Jim Harbaugh's teams reached a mountain top many didn't think was possible, but the lasting image of his tenure is as much scandal as champion for any non-Michigan supporter.</p><p>After Harbaugh bolted for the NFL, Moore's appointment didn't exactly calm the waters. It was just four months ago that the NCAA finally handed down suspensions and show-cause penalties in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal.</p><p>The on-field performance certainly dipped after Harbaugh's departure, and recent reports from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6909584/2025/12/22/sherrone-moore-michigan-firing-women/">The Athletic</a> and the <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2025/12/23/michigan-football-sherrone-moore-arrest/87889500007/?gca-cat=p&amp;gnt-cfr=1">Detroit Free Press</a> suggest Moore wasn't even equipped to run a Madden team on franchise mode, let alone one of college football's behemoths.</p><p>Whittingham immediately changes that, bringing a sterling reputation to Ann Arbor. His lengthy career has been virtually free of scandal, and his Utes are fresh off a 10-win season in which their only losses came against two teams inside the top 15 of the CFP. Perhaps the most "damning" thing in his Utah tenure was his inability to provide a clear timeline on when he planned to retire.</p><p>OK, the grown-up is now in the room. So what does his addition mean on the field?</p><p>His program has long been built on elite defense, toughness, and an often devastating rushing attack. Sound familiar, Michigan fans?</p><p>Whittingham's teams have annually garnered national respect for how hard they compete on defense each and every game. Morgan Scalley taking over as Utah head coach means Whittingham will have a new voice at the defensive coordinator position with the Wolverines, but his extensive background on that side of the ball should calm any concerns.</p><p>It's the offensive side of things where the Whittingham hire should excite fans the most, especially if Jason Beck is joining him.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815391/cropped_GettyImages-2233182470.jpg?ts=1766812214" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815391/w220xh124_GettyImages-2233182470.jpg?ts=1766812214 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815391/w320xh180_GettyImages-2233182470.jpg?ts=1766812214 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815391/w640xh360_GettyImages-2233182470.jpg?ts=1766812214 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815391/w768xh432_GettyImages-2233182470.jpg?ts=1766812214 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/815391/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2233182470.jpg?ts=1766812214 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ric Tapia / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://x.com/mzenitz/status/2004605438499934520?s=20">Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports</a> reported Friday that Whittingham will attempt to bring the Utah offensive coordinator with him to Michigan. That should be priority No. 1 - a hire that would have students singing "<a href="https://x.com/TheAidenWagner/status/1744579185782272254?s=20">Mr. Brightside</a>" in the streets. Beck's first season with the Utes was a masterclass. He immediately fixed an ailing offense, with Utah leading the country in yards per rush and finishing 5th nationally in scoring under his guidance.</p><p>Beck accomplished this with Devon Dampier at quarterback, a fine player at New Mexico who shined after making the jump to the power conference level. However, Beck getting someone with the talent level of Bryce Underwood at the controls would be like putting Lewis Hamilton at your local go-kart track.</p><p>Underwood can expect to get real close with Whittingham in the coming days, as the new coach will surely work to retain as many key players as possible. One has to think that a Beck hire would keep most of the offense in tact.</p><p>Some may raise questions about Whittingham's age - he's the third-oldest coach at the FBS level. However, he certainly comes across as a very youthful 66, and, for reference, he's only two years older than the head coach of the nation's top team, Curt Cignetti.</p><p>The most apt question to be asking surrounds Whittingham's recruiting chops. He returned solid, if unspectacular, classes to Utah annually. But with the resources and prestige Michigan offers, it would be expected that the Wolverines will remain a top destination.</p><p>Since Moore was fired on Dec. 8, Michigan fans have heard an almost endless list of candidates trotted out as possible options. Kalen DeBoer, Jedd Fisch, Kenny Dillingham, Jesse Minter, John Harbaugh, Jeff Brohm, and a host of others were all mentioned at one time or another. Some were part of more serious discussions, while others were simply floated in passing.</p><p>In the end, the Wolverines opted for the adult in the room to get everything back in order. Don't be shocked if Whittingham quickly leads the Wolverines back into playoff contention - scandal free.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33877957/related

Whittingham gives Michigan the adult it needs

The vibes in Norman couldn't have been higher.   It was 17-0 and the Oklahoma crowd was absolutel...

<p>The vibes in Norman couldn't have been higher. </p><p>It was 17-0 and the Oklahoma crowd was absolutely buzzing.</p><p>The defense was doing its regular thing and making life hell for Ty Simpson behind an overmatched Alabama offensive line. Even the previously anemic offense had driven the field three different times with ease. The difference in total yardage was a comical 181-12.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Sooner party had fully started, and it looked as though it was going to be an all-time night for the storied program as it finally got a win in the College Football Playoff.</p><p>And then it all ended, abruptly, before the game even hit halftime. </p><p>Alabama served a cold reminder that momentum is one helluva drug - especially in the high-stakes game that is the CFP.</p><p>It started with the 4th-down king once again issuing a royal decree: this ain't over. Kalen DeBoer has shown throughout his entire FBS coaching career that he is without peer when it comes to gambles in big spots, and he rolled the dice yet again in Norman. Fail and this was almost certainly over. Succeed and the Tide were right back in the contest.</p><p>Take it away, Lotzeir Brooks.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">BAMA CRASHING IN FOR 6️⃣<br><br>📺ABC/ESPN <a href="https://t.co/O7heXrTV7G">pic.twitter.com/O7heXrTV7G</a></p>— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBPlayoff/status/2002202141193351385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Like unclogging a toilet - and make no mistake, that's an apt comparison for how Alabama had looked up until this point - Brooks' touchdown removed the Oklahoma impediment and got the Tide flowing again.</p><p>Five plays later, the visitors didn't just have the ball back, but were already deep in opponent territory. We'd like to credit some outstanding play by Alabama for that situation, but the Sooners' punter literally just dropped the ball in a <a href="https://x.com/CFBKings/status/2002202761618767971?s=20">moment that still doesn't make sense</a>.</p><p>Alabama would get a field goal out of that miscue to cut the lead to seven, and the Tide were officially rolling.</p><p>The punter blunder was bad, but the upcoming series would be what turned things for good. The culprit? A play so inexplicable you could see the energy sucked out of the building even while watching on television.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">50-YARD PICK SIX 🚨<br><br>📺ABC/ESPN <a href="https://t.co/PxizpL4J8D">pic.twitter.com/PxizpL4J8D</a></p>— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBPlayoff/status/2002207434283364629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>A 50-yard pick-6 - with not one Oklahoma receiver in the frame - officially erased the 17-point lead and made it a new ballgame by halftime.</p><p>Technically the game was even at the break, but even the most ardent Sooner out there would admit the home team was on the ropes. Unfortunately, Oklahoma had been down that road before, blowing a 17-point lead to Georgia in a 2018 CFP loss.</p><p>That second half picked up where the first ended, with an early Alabama touchdown giving it a lead it would never relinquish. The final 10-point margin ensured another blown 17-point lead for the Sooners and dropped the program's record to 0-5 in the history of the playoff. According to <a href="https://x.com/CodyNagel247/status/2002239426529755219?s=20">Cody Nagel of 247 Sports</a>, teams in the playoff are now 28-2 all-time when holding a lead of at least 17 points in a game, with both losses by Oklahoma.</p><p>In the end, the game was decided over a 40-minute span. The first 19 a resounding victory for the Sooners to take the 17-0 lead. However, they may have staggered the Tide, but they didn't knock them out. Alabama's 21 minutes of fury saw the visitors outscore the hosts 27-0 and dominate 194-59 in total offense.</p><p>Oklahoma spent all season winning in spite of its offense, but couldn't pull one more rabbit out of the hat once the Tide had flipped the script. That ended up costing the Sooners in the end, and will bring about plenty of offseason questions as to whether John Mateer is the quarterback to get that fixed in Norman.</p><p>Alabama's reward for the victory is a date with No. 1 Indiana - a matchup that will mark the first ever clash between the schools.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33802347/related

Alabama reminds us momentum is a helluva drug

College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from Saturday's tripleheader of Col...

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from Saturday's tripleheader of College Football Playoff games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Locals deliver for Miami</h3><p>If you want to win at Miami, you better own the South Florida region in high school recruiting, as it's been one of the main catalysts behind the success of "The U" across generations of college football. Mario Cristobal has done just that since taking over his alma mater, and the fruits of that labor showed in a big way during the program's first CFP win.</p><p>The Hurricanes' narrow 10-3 victory over Texas A&amp;M was certainly a team effort, but three local kids stood out as central figures who delivered in the clutch.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The first comes as no surprise: Wide receiver Malachi Toney has been Miami's most dangerous offensive player since stepping on campus as a product of the famed American Heritage School. For a brief moment, though, Toney was on the other side of glory following a crucial fumble that gave the Aggies the ball near midfield in a 3-3 game. However, Texas A&amp;M's offense quickly stalled - something we saw plenty of - and soon after, the 18-year-old redeemed himself with the go-ahead touchdown.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE FRESHMAN IN THE CLUTCH 🔥<br><br>Malachi Toney gives Miami the lead 👀 <a href="https://t.co/iHiRTBKQZA">pic.twitter.com/iHiRTBKQZA</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/2002475799257948404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Toney largely had running back Mark Fletcher Jr. to thank for that chance at redemption. Toney's fellow American Heritage alumnus - three years his senior - ran all over the Aggies for a career-best 172 rushing yards. Fletcher's own clutch moment - a 56-yard scamper from the Hurricanes' 14-yard line - set up Toney for his eventual game-winning touchdown.</p><p>At long last, the offense had generated enough points to win. Then, one final stop by Miami's defense sent the Canes to the Cotton Bowl for a date with Ohio State. Freshman defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald - who went to Christopher Columbus High School, the same as Cristobal - did the honors, picking off Marcel Reed for the second time, this one a game-sealing interception in the end zone.</p><p>Add in three sacks and four tackles for loss from the outrageous Rueben Bain Jr. and it's clear that the 305's impact was massive in the victory over the Aggies.</p><h3>Reed limits Texas A&amp;M</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814765/cropped_GettyImages-2252887336.jpg?ts=1766280310" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814765/w220xh124_GettyImages-2252887336.jpg?ts=1766280310 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814765/w320xh180_GettyImages-2252887336.jpg?ts=1766280310 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814765/w640xh360_GettyImages-2252887336.jpg?ts=1766280310 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814765/w768xh432_GettyImages-2252887336.jpg?ts=1766280310 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814765/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2252887336.jpg?ts=1766280310 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>As if losing on a potential game-tying touchdown being intercepted isn't reason enough to cause Texas A&amp;M fans distress, when you scale back the Aggies' season a few weeks, even greater offensive concerns are revealed.</p><p>Chief among them is the play of Reed when the level of competition ramps up. He can light up a scoreboard at the best of times - just ask Notre Dame - but his play down the stretch simply wasn't good enough. The regular-season finale against Texas and CFP opener versus Miami represented the most talented defensive units the Aggies faced, and the returns were incredibly underwhelming.</p><p>Reed completed 45 of 71 passes for a total of 417 yards in those contests with zero touchdowns against four interceptions. That 5.8-yard average per throw would rank well outside the top 100 in the nation. Those struggles doomed the team's offense in its most critical moments, with the Aggies scoring seven total points across their last six quarters of football.</p><p>The book on Reed is to keep him in the pocket and force him to take shots down the field. So much of the success in A&amp;M's passing game comes from KC Concepcion and Mario Craver working magic after the catch. Outside of a 59-yard completion to Craver, the Aggies' longest passing play Saturday was just 19 yards.</p><p>Getting Reed more comfortable against top-level competition has to be Texas A&amp;M's No. 1 priority this offseason. The Aggies won't take the next step until he does - or they bring in someone else.</p><h3>Train still runs without Lane</h3><p>It took exactly three plays for Ole Miss to show that Lane Kiffin's absence wasn't going to be a crippling loss in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Pete Golding era in Oxford began with a three-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in Kewan Lacy plunging into the end zone to give the Rebels a lead they would never relinquish against Tulane.</p><p>How Ole Miss would look without Kiffin was the question on everyone's minds heading into the playoff. The emphatic answer: the exact same.</p><p>The 41-10 blowout looked virtually identical to the Rebels' 45-10 win over the Green Wave in September. The American champion simply wasn't on the same level athletically. Those against Group of 5 representation in the CFP will certainly use this result as a talking point, and it's tough to argue after what we saw on the field.</p><p>It's unclear whether Kiffin was watching his former team in action, but he did post some extremely specific stats online during the contest.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr">⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/LSUfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LSUfootball</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/QNMIFsPLse">pic.twitter.com/QNMIFsPLse</a></p>— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lane_Kiffin/status/2002510006910919040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Kiffin should be pleased with the Rebels' victory, considering LSU is paying him any contract bonuses that he would have received at Ole Miss. That means Saturday's win made him $250K richer.</p><p>Ole Miss booked another rematch with the win: a meeting with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.</p><h3>Cinderella hibernates until March</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814789/cropped_GettyImages-2252903174.jpg?ts=1766292120" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814789/w220xh124_GettyImages-2252903174.jpg?ts=1766292120 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814789/w320xh180_GettyImages-2252903174.jpg?ts=1766292120 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814789/w640xh360_GettyImages-2252903174.jpg?ts=1766292120 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814789/w768xh432_GettyImages-2252903174.jpg?ts=1766292120 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814789/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2252903174.jpg?ts=1766292120 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Tom Hauck / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>There's nothing more entertaining in college sports than a small program trying to make a Cinderella run and take down some of the blockbuster names in the sport. At least, in March that is.</p><p>Saturday served an emphatic reminder that football ain't basketball and Cinderella doesn't make an appearance until Christmas is long gone.</p><p>Thanks to the ineptitude of the ACC and it's outrageously silly tiebreaker setup, this year's College Football Playoff saw two different Group of 5 programs make the field. Some thought that meant two different chances for David to slay Goliath and shock the world. However, in reality, it simply handed Ole Miss and Oregon de facto byes to the quarterfinals.</p><p>The combined score by halftime in the final two games of the day was 51-9. At least Oregon made James Madison's death quick with five straight touchdown drives to open the contest at an absurd 16.6 yards per play.</p><p>Yes, upsets in March Madness are a core part of the sport, and one of the main things that drives attention to the tournament. However, the talent and size discrepancy between basketball programs is significantly different than what we see on the football field. If you combine the 11-man offensive and defensive units Saturday, it's not a huge stretch to suggest Oregon had the best 22 players in the final game of the day.</p><p>We aren't saying football will never produce a stunning result. Anybody who has watched long enough remembers Appalachian State over Michigan, Boise State over Oklahoma, or just last year when national runner-up Notre Dame lost at home to Northern Illinois. However, not one of those games came during a playoff for the national title. With extra time to prepare, any opponent is going to get the full attention of a giant like Oregon. Add the transfer portal stripping the majority of top players from the Group of 5 level, and it's borderline impossible to ever see one of these underdogs winning in the pressure cooker of the playoff.</p><p>Anti-trust regulations forced the inclusion of the Group of 5 in the playoff, so they will likely remain with a spot moving forward. However, the committee needs to ensure that's where it ends, regardless of what shenanigans the ACC pulls.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33814115/related

CFB Blitz: Takeaways from Saturday's 1st-round games

Miami's 10-3 victory over Texas A&M in Saturday's College Football Playoff contest was certainly ...

<p>Miami's 10-3 victory over Texas A&amp;M in Saturday's College Football Playoff contest was certainly the main event, but the Hurricanes also scored a win on the undercard thanks to Rueben Bain Jr.</p><p>Through no fault of his own, the star defensive end found himself in the news leading into the game thanks to Aggies' star OT Trey Zuhn III.</p><p>Zuhn entered the tilt holding PFF's top grade for a pass-blocking offensive lineman in the nation. That clearly had him brimming with confidence when asked what kind of challenge Bain could present the home team.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I don't think he will be a threat that we need to worry about too much," Zuhn told <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/fIfdJbKjVcI?si=0sEhOC1_MgtDggLx">CBS Sports</a>. "We have great players, a great offensive line, so we'll be able to handle him."</p><p>Bain made sure Zuhn's prediction would prove false, absolutely dominating the Aggies from the opening drive. The projected first-round pick finished with an outrageous line of three sacks, four tackles for loss and a blocked field goal in the win.</p><p>"Some guys were in the media saying some things, God bless them," Bain said afterwards, according to <a href="https://x.com/S_Font_Sports/status/2002490733165711516?s=20">Sebastian Font of Canes Insight</a>. "Don't write checks you can't cash."</p><p>The Hurricanes are now off to face Ohio State in the quarterfinals, with Bain once again squaring off with a top-ranked offensive line. It's probably a safe bet the Buckeyes won't be doing much talking in the media prior to kickoff. </p>

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 29, 2025: Rueben Bain Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes looks on during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33812021/related

Miami's Bain on A&M chatter: 'Don't write checks you can't cash'

Ole Miss star Kewan Lacy left Saturday's first-round CFP matchup versus Tulane late in the third ...

<p>Ole Miss star Kewan Lacy left Saturday's first-round CFP matchup versus Tulane late in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.</p><p>Lacy initially suffered the injury in the second quarter, heading to the medical tent on the final drive of the half. The running back would return after halftime, with the TNT broadcast relaying that he had been offered a shoulder harness but declined to use one.</p><p>Lacy played almost the entirety of the third quarter before heading to the sideline in pain in the final minute.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The breakout rusher made his usual impact early against the Green Wave, scoring a touchdown on the third play of the game. He departed with 87 yards rushing in the game and the Rebels leading 27-3. </p><p>Head coach Pete Golding confirmed to <a href="https://x.com/clowfb/status/2002538586722484427?s=20">On3's Chris Low</a> that it was a bruised shoulder for Lacy and that he would be further evaluated.</p><p>The hosts would see out the victory without Lacy, eventually winning 41-10 to setup a quarterfinal rematch against Georgia.</p>

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - DECEMBER 20: Kewan Lacy #5 of the Ole Miss Rebels is tackled by Kevin Adams III #7 of the Tulane Green Wave during the first half of the 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi.

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Ole Miss star Lacy exits with shoulder injury

Saturday features a College Football Playoff tripleheader following Friday's kickoff between Okla...

<p>Saturday features a College Football Playoff tripleheader following Friday's kickoff between Oklahoma and Alabama.</p><p>The first round will take on the feel of the NCAA Tournament's opening weekend as two Cinderellas get a chance to make history with a seismic upset.</p><p>Add in an early blockbuster pitting two huge programs against each other and we're in for a nice little day that will decide who advances to the quarterfinals.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here are three storylines to watch when Texas A&amp;M faces Miami, Ole Miss battles Tulane, and Oregon meets James Madison.</p><h3>Coaches playing musical chairs</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814515/cropped_GettyImages-2241832031.jpg?ts=1766113867" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814515/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241832031.jpg?ts=1766113867 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814515/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241832031.jpg?ts=1766113867 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814515/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241832031.jpg?ts=1766113867 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814515/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241832031.jpg?ts=1766113867 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814515/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241832031.jpg?ts=1766113867 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>How broken is the college football calendar? More than half the programs in the 12-team field have a head coach, coordinator, or senior position coach who's already holding a new job at a different school. That broken enough for you?</p><p>Let's run down the list.</p><p>Miami will try to slow down an explosive Texas A&amp;M offense called by incoming Kansas State head coach Collin Klein. He's not the only Aggies coordinator doing double duty either, as new Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman is sticking around in that same role with Texas A&amp;M through the playoff.</p><p>The only way you're unfamiliar with what the hell happened to Ole Miss' coaching situation is if you spent the last month on a deserted island. And if that's the case, congratulations on missing one of the most absurd coaching chases of all time. Lane Kiffin is long gone to LSU, so it's Pete Golding making his head coaching debut with the Rebels. While Kiffin took multiple staff members to Baton Rouge with him, he loaned a few back to Ole Miss - notably, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. - for the postseason. On the other sideline stands Jon Sumrall, whom you may know from his rousing introductory press conference at Florida a couple weeks ago.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’ve got 2 Phones, 2 Jobs &amp; 2 hours of sleep<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoGators?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoGators</a>🐊 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RollWave?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RollWave</a> <a href="https://t.co/sAJMkThNng">pic.twitter.com/sAJMkThNng</a></p>— Jon Sumrall (@CoachJonSumrall) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachJonSumrall/status/1998526086783885718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The final matchup of the opening round sees UCLA's new head coach, Bob Chesney, leading massive underdog James Madison into Oregon to face a defense called by Tosh Lupoi, the soon-to-be head man at Cal, and an offense led by freshly named Kentucky frontman Will Stein.</p><h3>Cinderella gets a shot ... twice</h3><p>We <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3175759" href="https://thescore.com/news/3175759">reminded</a> everyone in our postgame analysis last year that Cinderella doesn't play football after Penn State comfortably handled Boise State in the CFP quarterfinal. Well, it's probably safe to assume that point will be driven home emphatically in two of the three games Saturday, with not one but two Group of 5 schools in action as heavy road underdogs.</p><p>Now, we aren't going full Joel Klatt and joining the Fox Sports analyst in <a href="http://x.com/NextRoundLive/status/2000635976146997757?s=20">declaring</a>, "We're not looking for a Cinderella." We just don't think it's possible for either Tulane or James Madison to have the type of run we see almost annually in March.</p><p>We already witnessed the carnage that ensued when the Green Wave visited Oxford earlier this season. The Rebels scored on eight of 10 drives (not including last-second kneel-downs), outgained their opponent by an absurd 266 yards, and could have led 35-3 at halftime with better production in the red zone. Kiffin might be gone, but Kewan Lacy and Trinidad Chambliss didn't get on the plane to Baton Rouge with him. Not yet, anyway.</p><p>James Madison is an impressive 11-1 on the season, but we'll let you guess which one of those games was the team's only matchup against a power-conference opponent. The Dukes' defensive line absolutely dominated the competition this year and actually performed extremely well in the team's lone loss to Louisville. However, Oregon is fifth in the country in yards per rush and will present a smashmouth attack that James Madison hasn't seen before.</p><p>At the end of the day, ask yourself this: Do you honestly think Dan Lanning is going to be the first coach of a power-conference program to lose to a Group of 5 opponent in the 12-team CFP?</p><h3>The Spiderman Meme Bowl</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814363/cropped_GettyImages-2247348060.jpg?ts=1766016593" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814363/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247348060.jpg?ts=1766016593 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814363/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247348060.jpg?ts=1766016593 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814363/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247348060.jpg?ts=1766016593 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814363/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247348060.jpg?ts=1766016593 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814363/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247348060.jpg?ts=1766016593 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Megan Briggs / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Saturday's first contest between Texas A&amp;M and Miami is undoubtedly the banger on the slate. Both teams might as well ditch their uniforms and rock red-and-blue tights because this matchup is as close to the <a href="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHh2OHBpeG16YTFjendxb2ZqY21oM281bzk4YjVrdTR0dm5objZ3NiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/l36kU80xPf0ojG0Erg/giphy.gif">Spiderman meme</a> as you'll find in college football. For the uninitiated: These two are essentially the same team.</p><ul>
<li>Explosive quarterbacks who are also prone to a turnover - or three ✅</li>
<li>Elite pass rush anchored by one of the best defensive linemen in the country ✅</li>
<li>Extremely talented skill group that can break a game in one play ✅</li>
<li>Beat Notre Dame in the season's opening month ✅</li>
<li>Resume lacking any other noteworthy wins ✅</li>
</ul><p>The similarities continue in how each team goes about its business on offense, with "balance" being the key word. Texas A&amp;M runs the ball 54% of the time, while Miami falls just underneath that mark at 53%. Both groups have three players with at least 350 rushing yards and three wide receivers with more than 350 receiving yards on the year. And quarterbacks Marcel Reed and Carson Beck have the same 25-to-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio.</p><p>The operating procedure on defense is simple for both squads: Get the opponent in third-and-long and eat with a dominant defensive line. Nobody is better at stopping teams on third down than the Aggies, who lead the nation with a comically low conversion rate of just 22% allowed. The Hurricanes aren't far behind, ranking 10th in the country in the same stat.</p><p>The offensive path to victory Saturday likely revolves around two things: avoiding turnovers and converting third downs. Whoever comes out on top in those categories should advance in the playoff.</p>

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CFP Saturday storylines: Coaching chaos, Cinderella's shot

The NFL fined Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua $25,000 for his comments about officiatin...

<p>The NFL fined Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua $25,000 for his comments about officiating, a source told <a href="https://x.com/MikeGarafolo/status/2002101522302448007?s=20">NFL Network's Mike Garafolo</a> on Friday.</p><p>Nacua criticized NFL officials earlier this week while appearing on a livestream with streamers N3on and Adin Ross.</p><p>"The refs are the worst," Nacua <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ZqfbH-l4Q&amp;t=358s">said</a>. "These guys are lawyers. They want to be on TV too. You don't think he's texting his friends in the group chat like, 'Yo, you guys just saw me on Sunday Night Football. That wasn't P.I. (pass interference), but I called it.'"</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Nacua also publicly <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3431172" href="https://thescore.com/news/3431172">apologized</a> before Thursday's game for performing a gesture that was "antisemitic in nature" on the livestream. The NFL subsequently issued a statement condemning antisemitism that didn't name him specifically.</p><p>The Rams receiver continued to slam referees after Thursday night's overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Nacua, who had a career-high 225 receiving yards on 12 catches, posted and subsequently deleted a tweet that appeared to address the officiating in the game minutes after the contest ended.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Puka Nacua deleted this tweet he sent immediately after the game: <a href="https://t.co/gDaWcWIUNZ">https://t.co/gDaWcWIUNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/hWtGwXn18W">pic.twitter.com/hWtGwXn18W</a></p>— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) <a href="https://twitter.com/NateAtkins_/status/2001883719335051674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The receiver explained the deleted post to reporters in the locker room.</p><p>"It was just a lack of awareness," Nacua told a group of media members, including <a href="https://x.com/ArashMarkazi/status/2001895470877278361?s=20">Arash Markazi of the Sporting Tribune</a>. "Just frustration."</p><p>While it's unclear if Nacua was upset about a specific call, there were a number of controversial rulings - including an <a href="https://x.com/awfulannouncing/status/2001833207583641878?s=20">offensive penalty</a> against the Rams on the 1-yard line that took a touchdown off the board.</p><p>However, the call that garnered the majority of the attention involved a review that ended up supplying the points to send the contest to overtime.</p><p>The Seahawks' 16-point fourth-quarter comeback looked to be two points short after a conversion attempt appeared to be an incomplete pass. The teams were lining up for the ensuing kickoff when the officiating crew announced a review. That review eventually determined the pass went backward, making it a live ball that was recovered in the end zone by the Seahawks.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Is this the craziest 2-point conversion EVER?"<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/Seahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Seahawks</a> tie it up in a WILD way 😳<br><br>LARvsSEA on Prime Video<br>Also streaming on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/KwNtEIWVQ7">pic.twitter.com/KwNtEIWVQ7</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/2001865512473760127?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>That made the try successful and tied the game. Nacua scored in overtime to give the Rams the lead, but the Seahawks drove the length of the field for a matching touchdown before winning on another two-point conversion.</p><p>Head coach Sean McVay admitted he'd never experienced a similar play.</p><p>"I've never quite seen anything like what happened on the 2-point conversion where you are lined up to kick off, then they say it's a fumble because they had a clear and obvious recovery," McVay told reporters afterward. "Very interesting, didn't get a clear explanation of everything that went on just because of some of the timing of it. ... I've never seen anything - or never been a part of anything - like that, and I've grown up around this game."</p><p>McVay was also asked about Nacua's deleted post, but did not want to offer an opinion since he had yet to see it for himself. However, the veteran coach did voice his support for the receiver.</p>

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 18: Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams gets set during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

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Report: Rams' Nacua fined $25K for comments on officiating

Alabama fans let out a sigh of relief on Selection Sunday when Rece Davis announced the Crimson T...

<p>Alabama fans let out a sigh of relief on Selection Sunday when Rece Davis announced the Crimson Tide had backed into the field despite getting pantsed by Georgia in the SEC title game.</p><p>However, that relief was likely short-lived after fans looked at the bracket and saw a trip to Oklahoma in the cards.</p><p>It's only been two matchups in the last two seasons, but perhaps no coach in the country has figured out Kalen DeBoer and his offense to the extent that Brent Venables has. If Venables' defense is throwing a turnover party, expect Alabama to RSVP first. The Sooners nabbed six takeaways in those two games against the Tide, including three in Tuscaloosa last month that essentially gave Oklahoma an improbable win.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Alabama dominated the stats in that affair, more than doubling the visitors with 426 yards of offense to 212 for Oklahoma. That Sooners total represents the fourth-fewest yards by an FBS team in a win against a top-five team since 2000.</p><p>Thanks to Isaiah Sategna III's electric punt-return skills, an 87-yard interception return, and two forced fumbles, Oklahoma needed just 76 yards of total offense to put 20 of its 23 points on the board versus the Tide. How's that for efficiency?</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814395/cropped_GettyImages-2246344716.jpg?ts=1766035849" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814395/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246344716.jpg?ts=1766035849 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814395/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246344716.jpg?ts=1766035849 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814395/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246344716.jpg?ts=1766035849 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814395/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246344716.jpg?ts=1766035849 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814395/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246344716.jpg?ts=1766035849 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Butch Dill / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>In 2025, that type of victory might as well be called the Oklahoma Way.</p><p>The passing attack has cratered since high-priced transfer John Mateer returned from injury for the Texas game. Mateer opened his Oklahoma career with four straight games of at least 270 yards passing. He's only topped 225 once since. </p><p>The Sooners' 90th-ranked offense - by far the worst in the playoff - has attracted plenty of scorn throughout the year. One Group of 5 team's assistant gave a particularly colorful description to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6894571/2025/12/17/college-football-playoff-confidential-indiana-ohio-state-georgia/">Bruce Feldman of The Athletic</a>: "The defense is awesome, but I don't think their offense can piss a drop."</p><p>The Sooners developed an allergy to moving the ball in the final month of the season. The offense scored just seven touchdowns in 47 offensive possessions over the month of November, with only two coming on drives of at least five plays.</p><p>Oklahoma's game script has been essentially the same in its last two contests: struggle to move the ball, then throw up the bat signal and hope Sategna can save you. It's a testament to the wideout's outrageous speed that he's done just that, with touchdowns of 87 and 58 yards in that span.</p><p>Despite the offensive struggles, Venables said the build-up to Friday's game has been encouraging.</p><p>"This is kind of how the last week and a half has gone. The offense is just taking these big steps that get me fired up and excited," the third-year coach said on his radio show, according to <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/oklahoma-offense-college-football-playoff-alabama/">Brad Crawford of CBS Sports</a>.</p><p>The thing is, it might not even matter. </p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814394/cropped_GettyImages-2246888213.jpg?ts=1766035459" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814394/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246888213.jpg?ts=1766035459 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814394/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246888213.jpg?ts=1766035459 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814394/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246888213.jpg?ts=1766035459 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814394/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246888213.jpg?ts=1766035459 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/814394/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246888213.jpg?ts=1766035459 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>For as bad as the Sooners' offense has been, Alabama's given off a similar stench over the past month.</p><p>The Tide essentially gave up on running the ball early in the season and enter this matchup sporting the nation's 117th-ranked rushing attack. A team can overcome that with a Heisman-level quarterback - something Ty Simpson was for the first half of the season.</p><p>However, that hasn't been the case down the stretch. Simpson's electric start with 21 touchdowns against just one interception might as well have happened last year. He's thrown five touchdowns to four interceptions in the last four games and posted a quarterback rating of 19.9 in the SEC title game - comically low considering his season average was 76.95.</p><p>The last two performances were particularly concerning: Alabama's offense failed to average 4 yards per play against Auburn or Georgia. In addition to the dismal quarterback rating versus the Bulldogs, the Tide rushed for a total of minus-3 yards on Kirby Smart's defense. Yes, that's the right number.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alabama has negative-3 rushing yards. Do you know the last time Alabama had negative rushing yards in a game? Never. Like, never ever (according to Bama's game notes).</p>— Matt Baker (@MattBakerCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattBakerCFB/status/1997460288732606921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>To recap, that's an offensive line that can't run block or pass protect playing on the road in a hostile environment against the nation's top defensive line. Oh, and did we mention that R Mason Thomas - Oklahoma's best defender - is set for action after missing the Sooners' last meeting with Alabama?</p><p>A rock fight appears to be on deck in Norman on Friday, as neither offense seems likely to sustain much success given how the past month has gone. The difference might be that Oklahoma is supremely comfortable with that type of game, while Alabama will do anything in its power to avoid such a spectacle.</p><p>Should the Sooners pull off the victory and oust the Tide, they would become the first team to beat Alabama twice in the same season in more than 132 years.</p><p>If you thought the DeBoer-to-Michigan rumors were loud earlier this week, tune in to see what happens if Alabama fails to make the CFP quarterfinals for the second straight season.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33782362/related

No offense in Norman: Expect a rock fight in Alabama-Oklahoma

Indiana continued placing itself at the center of the college football universe Saturday, with qu...

<p>Indiana continued placing itself at the center of the college football universe Saturday, with quarterback <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/players/171730" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/players/171730">Fernando Mendoza</a> winning the Heisman Trophy as the top player in the country.</p><p>Mendoza is the first player in Indiana's history to take home college football's top honor. He beat out Vanderbilt passer Diego Pavia, Ohio State signal-caller Julian Sayin, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th> 1st-place votes</th>
<th> Total points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Fernando Mendoza</td>
<td> 643</td>
<td> 2362</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Diego Pavia</td>
<td> 189</td>
<td> 1435</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jeremiyah Love</td>
<td> 46</td>
<td> 719</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Julian Sayin</td>
<td> 8</td>
<td> 432</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Cal transfer immediately made an impact in his first season with the Hoosiers, throwing for 14 touchdowns in his first four games at his new program. He would finish with 33 on the season to lead the country, throwing for 2,980 yards and completing over 71% of his passes.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>However, Mendoza's candidacy was built on much more than stats - as the redshirt-junior passer rose to the occasion in the biggest moments on Indiana's magical run. He delivered in the clutch time and again all season, especially when the pressure was highest. Mendoza shone in comeback wins over Iowa, Penn State and Ohio State - with his game-winning touchdown pass against the Nittany Lions arguably the play of the year.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">OMAR COOPER UNREAL CATCH FOR THE TD 😱🤯<br><br>WHAT A GAME. WHAT A CATCH. <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianaFootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/PhHzKjuVB9">pic.twitter.com/PhHzKjuVB9</a></p>— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1987256102262874620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Mendoza had the good fortune of joining the juggernaut Curt Cignetti had built in just one year at Indiana, however, he was clearly the upgrade at quarterback needed to get the Hoosiers on the same level as the elite programs in the country.</p><p>The Heisman is the latest honor in his breakout season, as Mendoza already claimed the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback and the Maxwell Award as the country's best player, and was named the Associated Press' Player of the Year.</p><p>"I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated to know I was you," Mendoza <a href="https://x.com/SCNext/status/2000012469314441220?s=20">said</a> after receiving the Heisman Trophy. "I was that kid, too. I was in your shoes. The truth is you don't need the most stars, hype or rankings. You just need discipline, heart, and people who believe in you. And you need to believe in your own abilities. I hope this moment shows you that chasing your dreams are worth it, no matter how big or impossible they seem."</p><p>Runner-up Pavia, who was the first Heisman finalist in Vanderbilt history, completed 71.2% of his passes this season for 3192 yards and 27 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He also added nine scores on the ground, giving him a total of 36 touchdowns. More importantly, the Commodores won 10 games with Pavia under center this season, the most in the school's history.</p>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 13: Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy before the 2025 Heisman Trophy Presentation at Marriott Marquis Hotel on December 13, 2025 in New York City.

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Fernando Mendoza wins 2025 Heisman Trophy

The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Saturday, but there's plenty of other hardware to hand out in ...

<p><em>The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Saturday, but there's plenty of other hardware to hand out in the meantime. Here are the winners from the 2025 College Football Awards show:</em></p><h3>Davey O'Brien Award (best quarterback)</h3><p><strong>Winner: </strong>Fernando Mendoza, Indiana</p><p>Mendoza becomes the first Indiana player to ever win the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback. The Cal transfer was an instant star in his first season with the Hoosiers, breaking the school record with 33 touchdown passes and leading the team to a Big Ten title. Mendoza provided plenty of dramatic moments this year - including some NFL-level throws in comeback wins over Penn State and Ohio State.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><em>Other finalists: Marcel Reed (Texas A&amp;M), Julian Sayin (Ohio State)</em></p><h3>Biletnikoff Award (best receiver)</h3><p><strong>Winner:</strong> Makai Lemon, USC</p><p>Lemon cashed in on an incredible season to become just the second USC player to win the award. The Trojans star was fourth in the nation in receiving yards and tied for sixth in touchdown grabs. He posted four games with at least 150 receiving yards - tied for most at the FBS level. </p><p><em>Other finalists: Skyler Bell (UConn), Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State)</em></p><h3>Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player)</h3><p><strong>Winner: </strong>Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813698/cropped_GettyImages-2250990075.jpg?ts=1765588085" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813698/w220xh124_GettyImages-2250990075.jpg?ts=1765588085 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813698/w320xh180_GettyImages-2250990075.jpg?ts=1765588085 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813698/w640xh360_GettyImages-2250990075.jpg?ts=1765588085 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813698/w768xh432_GettyImages-2250990075.jpg?ts=1765588085 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813698/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2250990075.jpg?ts=1765588085 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">John E. Moore III / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>It would take a fantastic individual season for someone to claim this award over Caleb Downs, and that's exactly what Rodriguez did in 2025. The Texas Tech star linebacker recorded 117 tackles (11 for loss), four interceptions, and one sack in 13 games en route to finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.</p><p><em>Other finalists: Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Cashius Howell (Texas A&amp;M)</em></p><h3>Doak Walker Award (best running back)</h3><p><strong>Winner: </strong>Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame</p><p>No surprise here. Love once again was a beast for Notre Dame and became the first Fighting Irish player to win this award. The star tailback rushed for 1,372 yards (6.9 per carry) and 18 touchdowns in 2025 to go along with 280 receiving yards and three TD catches. </p><p><em>Other finalists: Ahmad Hardy (Missouri), Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss)</em></p><h3>Outland Trophy (best interior lineman)</h3><p><strong>Winner: </strong>Spencer Fano, Utah</p><p>Fano came into the season with plenty of NFL buzz surrounding him and delivered all year for Utah. Fano allowed zero sacks in 382 pass-blocking snaps on the season, according to <a href="https://x.com/PFF_College/status/1999635803694334377?s=20">PFF</a>. The 6-foot-6, 302-pound junior is one of the more athletic interior linemen in the country and should be one of the top picks in April's NFL draft.</p><p><em>Other finalists: Logan Jones (Iowa), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)</em></p><h3>Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back)</h3><p><strong>Winner: </strong>Caleb Downs, Ohio State</p><p>Downs became the third Ohio State player to be named college football's best defensive back - and no one should be surprised by it. A cornerstone of the Buckeyes' stout defensive unit, Downs was all over the field in 2025, finishing the campaign with 60 tackles (five for loss), two pass breakups, two interceptions, and one sack.</p><p><em>Other finalists: Mansoor Delane (LSU), Leonard Moore (Notre Dame)</em></p><h3>Coach of the Year</h3><p><strong>Winner: </strong>Curt Cignetti, Indiana</p><p>They might as well rename this award for Cignetti after the Indiana coach took home the honors for the second year in a row. That being said, it's tough to argue with the decision, as he helped deliver Indiana's first Big Ten title in 58 years with a win over Ohio State in the conference championship game. That victory snapped a 37-game losing streak for the Hoosiers versus the Buckeyes and secured the No. 1 seed for the College Football Playoff.</p><h3>Ray Guy Award (best punter)</h3><p><strong>Winner: </strong>Brett Thorson, Georgia</p><p>Thorson joined Drew Butler (2009) as the only Georgia punters to win the Ray Guy Award. The Australian averaged 45.2 yards per punt this season to be named the nation's most outstanding punter in his second straight year as a finalist.</p><p><em>Other finalists: Evan Crenshaw (Troy), Palmer Williams (Baylor)</em></p><h3>Lou Groza Award (best kicker)</h3><p><strong>Winner: </strong>Tate Sandell, Oklahoma</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813708/cropped_GettyImages-2248967574.jpg?ts=1765589622" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813708/w220xh124_GettyImages-2248967574.jpg?ts=1765589622 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813708/w320xh180_GettyImages-2248967574.jpg?ts=1765589622 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813708/w640xh360_GettyImages-2248967574.jpg?ts=1765589622 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813708/w768xh432_GettyImages-2248967574.jpg?ts=1765589622 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/813708/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2248967574.jpg?ts=1765589622 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Brian Bahr / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Short shorts, long kicks. Sandell is the first Sooner ever to win the Lou Groza Award as the nation's best kicker after converting 23 of 24 field-goal attempts in 2025. Additionally, he didn't miss any of his 32 extra-point attempts.</p><p><em>Other finalists: Aidan Birr (Georgia Tech), Kansei Matsuzawa (Hawaii)</em></p><h3>Maxwell Award (best player)</h3><p><strong>Winner: </strong>Fernando Mendoza, Indiana</p><p>Mendoza added another major award to his outstanding 2025 season by winning the Maxwell Award after also being named the nation's top quarterback Friday. The Heisman Trophy finalist completed 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns, the highest mark at the FBS level in 2025.</p><p><em>Other finalists: Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame), Julian Sayin (Ohio State)</em></p>

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 6: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers holds the MVP trophy after the 2025 Big Ten Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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