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.

Baylor AD Mack Rhoades New Chairman of CFP Committee

The CFP Management Committee appointed Baylor Athletic Director Mack Rhoades to be the 2025 selection committee chairman.

Rhoades replaces Michigan’s AD, Warde Manuel, who was the previous chairman.

Rhoades is a new addition with several other new additions to the Committee, including former Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio, Maryland AD Damon Evans, Middle Tennessee State AD Chris Massaro, former Ole Miss TE Wesley Walls, and former On3 and ESPN sportswriter Ivan Maisel were named to the 13-member group.

The 3-year terms of Manuel, Chet Gladchuk, Jim Grobe, Will Shields, and Kelly Whiteside all expired, and former Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel is also taking a step away after just one year to handle other commitments.

North Carolina, Bill Belichick Will Not Participate in Hard Knocks After Deal Falls Through

According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, Coach Bill Belichick and North Carolina will not participate in ‘Hard Knocks’ after not being able to reach an agreement.

Jones has reported that creative control was at the center of the disagreement.

Jones also reported that “sources told CBS Sports there is still a desire within the UNC football program to do some sort of all-access, behind-the-scenes series with some media group. But one source questioned why UNC wouldn’t want the prestige and reach of HBO and NFL Films, the latter of which has worked with Belichick for decades. Sources at UNC had spotted NFL Films employees in the facility in recent weeks, and there was excitement across the football program and university about the exposure Belichick’s team would receive from the series.”

Clemson Players Hurt For Spring Workouts

Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney gave an update on the injury situation during spring workouts on who is available for full contact, and who is still recovering from offseason surgeries to repair injuries.

In sum, there were 12 players listed: LB Logan Anderson, DL Champ Thompson, EDGE Ari Watford, DT Stephiylan Green, RB Jay Haynes, OL Ian Reed, OL Elyjah Thurmon, TE Olsen Patt-Henry, WR Clay Swinney (son of Coach), CB Jeadyn Lukus, OG Walker Parks, and DE Zaire Patterson.

Coach Swinney shared, “injury-wise… you’ll see some guys that are in green and those guys are in practice and working their way back, some will work their way out of green, some will be in green all Spring depending on their situation. In green, they’re really doing everything, they’re just not doing any live work. And you’ll see some guys in yellow, and the guys in yellow are longterm guys.”

Oklahoma New GM Jim Nagy on Why He Took the Job: You Can Win Big Time

Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy recently took over as Oklahoma’s General Manager, where he’s going to be working closely with Coach Brent Venables.

Nagy was on SiriusXM College Sports Radio speaking about his decision, sharing, “I loved the Senior Bowl job. You guys know that. I threw myself into that role pretty heavy over the years, so it was going to take something of this magnitude to leave, to leave Mobile. My daughter’s still in high school. This wasn’t the perfect time for a change, but it’s Oklahoma football. I was asked that question during the interview process, and it’s Oklahoma football. You can win and you can win big-time there. … Just really good people there, so it’s set up to success. Credit to leadership there. They are really committed to this new model in college football. Just fired up about it. I can’t wait to get out to Norman.”

Mario Cristobal: I Don’t Decide Who Earns the #1 Jersey Anymore

Ever since Mario Cristobal took over at Miami, the #1 jersey has gone to a leader of the program on each side of the ball. For example, QB Cam Ward and LB Francisco Mauigoa had the #1 last season.

However, Coach Cristobal recently shared that he had to recuse him from that decision making process, and pass that choice off to one of his assistant coaches.

“That’s a great question. I can’t be giving out jerseys, so I assign a staff member to do so. It’s the worst job in America, you know, to deal with everybody that wants the same jersey number. So, I’ve relieved myself of those duties, and I have a coach do that, and he just kind of comes by at the end and briefs me on it. I’ll set up a press conference for him so he can answer all these crazy questions. With all the stuff that you have to do, if I have to sit there and try to figure that out, that’s like, uh, it’s like Chinese math. I mean, it’s really, really difficult.”

Florida QB DJ Lagway: We’re Gonna Have the Best OL in America

Florida QB DJ Lagway was on Outta Pocket with RGIII and he made a bold proclamation ahead of 2025: “I say the O-Line [is going to have a breakout season]. We got everybody coming back. I think the O-Line is going to be the best in America. Everybody is coming back. I think we’re just missing one, but everybody else is returners. It’s going to click right away. I’m excited. It’s going to be good.”

Lagway specifically referenced center Jake Slaughter, an AP All-American First Team selection in 2024 who had the highest PFF grades for pass blocking, run blocking, and overall offensive grade: “Jake Slaughter, our center. He was an All-American this year. He’s a great guy. … Obviously, it took some bumps in the roads, a lot of ups and downs this year. But I feel like, at the end, we kind of pulled it all together and figured it out. Hopefully, we can put that momentum to the 2025 season.”

DJ Lagway on Napier Hot Seat Talk Providing Motivation

Florida QB DJ Lagway also shared on the Outta Pocket with RGIII podcast that the hot seat talk for Coach Billy Napier that seemed to be everywhere was seen in the locker room as disrespectful to Coach Napier, and was something the locker room took to heart.

“[The hot seat talk] was definitely motivation because I feel like they were disrespecting our coach and disrespecting us, genuinely. So, we had to go out there and show them what we had. Obviously, it took some bumps in the roads, a lot of ups and downs this year. But, I feel like, at the end, we kind of pulled it all together and figured it out. Hopefully, we can put that momentum to the 2025 season.”

Lance Leipold Confirms 2 Jayhawks Defenders No Longer with Program

DB Damarius McGhee and LB Tristian Fletcher are no longer with the Kansas football program, according to Coach Lance Leipold. Spring practice has started, and neither player is on the roster.

Both players still have a year of eligibility left, if they so chose to use it.

“They’re no longer on the roster and they’ll be finishing school. I don’t know their plans as far as playing. I think both of them are just gonna graduate and take the next step. But we appreciate those young men. Both had trouble staying healthy. Good young men. Love both of them and love their personalities. Very unselfish. Never a problem with attitude or work ethic.”

Each appeared in 6 games during 2024, but had injuries which limited their production on the field.

4-Star OT Casey Thomann Commits to Illinois

4-star OT Casey Thomann committed to Illinois yesterday over offers from Iowa, Nebraska, Iowa State, and a few others.

Thomann posted a heartfelt note in his commitment post (above), which highlights some of the people he’s grateful for, as well as part of what makes him so excited about the next step.

On3 ranks Thomann the highest, tabbing him as the 29th ranked OT, with the On3 industry composite ranking Thomann 418th nationally and 32nd at the OT position.

For Illinois, this is just the 2nd Blue Chip commitment for the class of 2026, but the Illini do already have 10 total commitments for a class which currently ranks 18th nationally and 6th in the Big Ten.

Other Commitments/Decommitments

Unrated OT Alex Rivera commits to Fresno State