Good morning, and welcome back to CFB Roundup from CFB Home – the first daily newsletter that’s all college football, all the time with no bias, no slant, and no fluff.

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS:

USF Beats San Jose State 41-39 in 5 Overtime Thriller to Win Hawaii Bowl

San Jose State had nearly a 90% chance to win with about 2 minutes left, as the Spartans held a 3 point lead and USF was forced with a tough decision to punt.

USF’s Andrew Stokes proceeded to kick a 72-yard punt, flipping the field and forcing San Jose State to start on the 5. USF forced a 3-and-out, barely, before it got the ball with about 40 seconds on the 50-yard-line. The Bulls were able to get to San Jose State’s 23 to set up the 41-yard field goal, which John Cannon booted through the uprights to force overtime.

In the first overtime, USF scored a touchdown, which required San Jose State to respond, which it did, in 11 plays, which involved a 3rd and 12 conversion and two 4th down conversions.

In the second overtime, San Jose State could only muster a field goal, but so could USF.

With dueling 2-point conversions in third overtime and beyond, both teams scored in 3OT, with neither team scoring in 4OT. In the 5th overtime the deadlock was broken, though, with USF the winner as Bryce Archie’s pass to Keshaun Singleton was complete and San Jose State was unable to convert.

USF scored 41 points with just 291 total yards, compared to San Jose State scoring 39 points with 441 total yards.

USF did win the turnover battle 2-1, even if it lost the yardage (and penalty; 11-104 v. 6-30) battle.

San Jose State QB Walker Eget finished 33/58 for 280 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception. RBs Lamar Radcliffe (15/65/1) and Floyd Chalk IV (15/60/1) led all rushers for the Spartans, with Matthew Coleman (12/119/1) also leading all receivers in the game.

For USF, QB Bryce Archie finished 24/35 for 235 yards and an interception, with all of the Bulls touchdowns coming either on the ground or on a kick return TD. RBs Kelley Joiner (11/33/1), Nay’Quan Wright (5/16/1), and Ta’Ron Keith (6/5/1) may not have excelled in terms of yards per carry, but they did combine for 3 touchdowns. Keith also had a 93-yard kick return touchdown.

Cal Transfer QB Fernando Mendoza Commits to Indiana

Cal transfer QB Fernando Mendoza has found a new home, committing to Indiana with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Mendoza started for most of Cal’s season in 2023, but 2024 was his breakout season, finishing with a 68.7% completion percentage, 3004 passing yards, and a 16:6 TD/INT ratio.

The season that he had led to him being one of the top players available in the portal, ranked by the On3 portal industry rankings as the #11 player nationally and #2 player at the QB position.

Kentucky Transfer WR Dane Key Commits to Nebraska

Kentucky transfer WR Dane Key committed to Nebraska yesterday to join Matt Rhule and the Huskers.

Key has spent the last three seasons with Kentucky, finishing with 126 catches for 1,870 yards and 14 touchdowns. In his three seasons, his output steadily increased, as he went from 37 to 42 to 47 receptions each year, also going from 519 to 636 to 715 receiving yards each season.

It’s no wonder then why Key was the 9th ranked player in On3’s transfer portal rankings and is ranked as the #6 WR that was available in the portal.

Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai Opting Out of Rate Bowl vs. Kansas State

Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano has shared that star RB Kyle Monangai will be opting out of the Rate Bowl vs. Kansas State.

Coach Schiano specifically shared, “he’s decided not to play, which I fully understand. He’s helped coach, he’s been at every meeting. If you didn’t know it, you’d think he was playing. That’s just the way that he’s prepared. But that’s Kyle, if he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it all out. And he’ll help us coach on Thursday night. We have some good young backs that’ll jump in there.”

“Kyle’s done so much for Rutgers. Excited for his future. He’s been awesome. Again, I thank Kyle, because you guys don’t even know some of the stuff that he played through this year and had the production that he had. I mean, it’s amazing … I know it’s hurting him not to play in this game, but I also know why he’s not and I understand.”

In Monangai’s 5 seasons with Rutgers, he’s been a steady presence at RB, including leading the Big Ten in rushing yards in 2023 with 1,262. This season, he did not lead the Big Ten in rushing yards, as Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson had a breakout season with more than 1,537, but Monangai finished 2nd with 1,279 yards – another 1,200 yard season.

Behind Monangai on the depth chart are Antwan Raymond and Samuel Brown V, who had 344 yards rushing and 201 yards rushing on the season.

Rice Transfer OT Ethan Onianwa Commits to Ohio State

Rice OL transfer Ethan Onianwa committed to Ohio State yesterday after having spent the last four seasons (including a redshirt year) at Rice, meaning he has one year of eligibility remaining.

In his time at Rice, Onianwa made 34 starts and appeared in 38 games, finishing with an impressive PFF pass blocking grade of nearly 80 in 2024.

Onianwa was rated as the second best IOL in the transfer portal according to the On3 transfer portal rankings, and he also garnered interest from Florida State, Iowa, and Texas A&M while in the transfer portal.

Boise State Injury Updates Ahead of Fiesta Bowl vs. Penn State

Boise State’s Coach Spencer Danielson recently shared some updates on his roster’s health, sharing that a couple playmakers could be out for the Broncos in the CFP’s Fiesta Bowl against Penn State.

Coach Danielson shared that Safety Alexander Teubner will definitely be available, but RB Sire Gaines may not be.

Specifically, Danielson shared, “(Teubner) has been practicing today, so he’s in a really good place. He’ll definitely be available for the game…” As for Gaines, though, the rotational back, “did some stuff at practice today. He looks really good. What it looks like for the game is going to be the same thing, it’s going to be, I don’t want to say a game-time decision. But it’ll be a game week (decision).”

South Alabama Transfer RB Fluff Bothwell Commits to Mississippi State

South Alabama transfer Fluff Bothwell committed to Mississippi State yesterday, after Bothwell had a standout true freshman season for the Jaguars.

Bothwell finished his true freshman season with 832 yards and 13 touchdowns on just 111 carries.

According to the On3 transfer portal rankings, Bothwell ranks as a top 3 RB in the portal, making this a huge get for the Bulldogs, who earned Bothwell’s commitment over programs like Ole Miss, Cincinnati, and Arizona.

Consensus 2026 4-Star CB Zyon Gibson Commits to Alabama

Consensus 4-star CB Zyon Gibson committed to Alabama yesterday over Auburn, Miami, and Tennessee, among others.

For Gibson, he loved the energy of the staff and the players, as well as the relationships he had with all of them.

Gibson has been to Tuscaloosa to visit Alabama on several occasions, and has officially decided it time to make the commitment.

Gibson is ranked in the Top 100 by every recruiting service, with ESPN ranking him the highest nationally (56th), and Rivals ranking him the highest at his position (4th). According to the On3 industry composite, though, Gibson ranks 69th nationally and 9th at the CB position. This is Alabama’s first commitment for the 2026 class.

2026 4-Star OL Ben Nichols Commits to Notre Dame

4-Star IOL Ben Nichols committed to Notre Dame yesterday over offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, and others.

As for why, Nichols said that, “historically, they’re the best offensive line program anyone can go with. They have great historical success.” Nichols also pointed out the coaches and academics of Notre Dame as large factors in his decision.

Nichols is ranked highest by On3, which ranks him 207th nationally, but the On3 industry composite rankings are not far behind, ranking him 209th nationally and 16th at the IOL position.

For Notre Dame, this is its 6th commitment in the 2026 class, a class which currently has 4 Blue Chip prospects and ranks 11th nationally.

Georgia’s Kirby Smart: Current December Calendar Not Best Thing for CFB

The month of December has become chaotic, to say the least, for coaches, especially those whose programs are playing in bowl games or the CFP.

Coach Kirby Smart has been dealing with it the entire time, playing late into December or January every season.

In addition to preparing for the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, Georgia also has to worry about Signing Day, players exiting the program for the transfer portal, and recruiting players to join Georgia from the transfer portal. Coach Smart and Georgia also will have to deal with an extended transfer portal window, as the transfer portal window is open for a few weeks, but comes with an additional five days for players whose team’s season ends later than the opening of the transfer portal window.

On this, Coach Smart shared, “it’s becoming the new norm, you know. December is absolutely just tough. I don’t know a good way of saying it. I wouldn’t say it’s unbearable. I wouldn’t say that it’s unfair. There’s a lot of words you could use for it. It’s just not probably the best thing for the college football game. … But when you intertwine all the working parts of academics, being a student athlete, and the timing of the playoff, timing of the portal, timing of Signing Day, it’s incredibly challenging. And it’s been that way this month.”

Other Commitments/Decommitments

3-Star (87) ATH Hayden Anderson commits to Sacramento State

3-Star (86) DL Tyrell Brown commits to Boise State

3-Star (85) WR Fonzy Smith commits to Western Kentucky

3-Star (85) QB Jacob Bell decommits from Ball State

3-Star (84) ATH Tye Nickens commits to Sacramento State

Unrated WR Jahari Johnson commits to San Jose State