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Ryan Day: Pressure to Win at Ohio State Can Be a Distraction

It is unlikely that Ohio State Head Coach has actually been on the hot seat despite losing to Michigan four straight times, however, he definitely has been feeling the competitive pressure that comes with being the Buckeyes’ Head Coach.

With Ohio State one win away from the program’s first National Championship in a little over a decade and with the Buckeyes a 9.5-point favorite over Notre Dame, Coach Day is trying not to think about that pressure.

“I think [the pressure is] worth a lot of conversation. I think when you start to get into that, though, as a coach or as a player, it can be a distraction. One of the things we’re trying to do this week is eliminate all the distractions. What’s happened in the past doesn’t matter. What’s happening moving forward doesn’t matter. All that matters is winning this game right now, and then we can kind of figure out what that is.”

Coach Day did also share, “I do think that there’s great conversation to be had about that down the road, and what comes with it, because it isn’t the same as a lot of other places. It’s just different. But I’m proud of our guys and the way that we stuck together throughout the year. So now we’re just going to have a great day of practice, that’s it. And no distractions.”

Texas QB Quinn Ewers Officially Declares for 2025 NFL Draft

Texas QB Quinn Ewers has officially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after spending four seasons in college, with 3 seasons as the starter at Texas. With Texas, Ewers finished with 9,128 passing yards, 76 total touchdowns (68 pass, 8 rush), and 28 interceptions.

In his time with Texas, he also reached the CFP Semifinals twice, reached the SEC Championship in Texas’ first season, and won the Big 12 in 2023.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel has already reported that Ewers is one of the most divisive prospects in the 2025 Draft, as some scouts have him ranging anywhere from an early Day 2 pick to a late Day 3 pick. What is at play here is that Ewers has experience in a complex offensive system that is similar to an NFL system, but he also has injury history and does not exactly have the results or statistics that jump off the page or matched the expectation in any of his seasons at Texas.

Dabo Swinney on Clemson in the Portal: Our Process is Still the Same

Clemson had yet to really use the transfer portal all that much before this season, but this offseason, Clemson has picked up some high profile transfers for 2025 and beyond.

But to Coach Swinney, nothing about the Clemson process has changed: “our process is still the same. We’re going to recruit high school kids as long as we can get the best of the best. … If we have a situation, and we have a gap in our roster, or we have kids that leave that all of a sudden create a gap, then you have to address that.”

In this transfer portal cycle, Clemson has added Missouri State WR Tristan Smith, Purdue DL Will Heldt, and Alabama LB Jeremiah Alexander.

USA Today Reporting Georgia & Alabama Contacted QB Carson Beck

USA Today’s Matt Hayes is reporting that when QB Carson Beck entered the transfer portal to transfer to Miami less than one day after entering with a do-not-contact tag, both Georgia and Alabama reached out to Beck.

It should be noted, some regional and team insiders have disputed the veracity of some of these claims. But Hayes’ report states that Coach Kirby Smart was the first to reach out to Beck, with Alabama also inquiring so that he could potentially be competition against the backup of the previous two seasons, Ty Simpson, and incoming true freshman 5-star Keelon Russell.

Either way, Beck has landed at Miami for what is allegedly the most money in college history.

Dan Mullen on How Time at ESPN Will Help at UNLV

For the last three seasons, new UNLV Head Coach Dan Mullen has been working alongside Matt Barrie at ESPN. However, Coach Mullen is now back on the sideline ready to be the Head Coach of a program again.

Coach Mullen credited a lot to his time at ESPN, sharing how being able to see the national landscape from that position is helping him out early at UNLV.

“We actually got two – Anthony Colandrea from UVA, that I’ve seen make a ton of plays, and Alex Orji. The greatest thing you have being at ESPN, I’ve gotten to watch everybody play. You sit in that room all day, and I’m watching every game in college football. I’ve seen them all. I got to watch Anthony live. His ability to extend plays, scramble around, throw the ball, tremendous arm talent. Really excited about what he brings to the table. Alex Orji, he’s undefeated against Ohio State. He’s won.”

North Carolina QB Jacolby Criswell Plans to Enter Transfer Portal

ESPN’s Pete Thamel is reporting that QB Jacolby Criswell plans to enter the transfer portal.

Criswell started his career with the Tar Heels, playing in 14 games across 3 years for UNC. He then spent one year at Arkansas, where he appeared in four games, before heading back to UNC for the 2024 season, appearing in 12 games.

In 2024, Criswell threw for 2,459 yards and 15 touchdowns. 2025 will be his last season of college football, though, as he has one season of eligibility remaining as a grad transfer.

LSU’s Brian Kelly Rooting for Irish, Acknowledges Backlash for Leaving

LSU’s Brian Kelly is allegedly rooting for Notre Dame in the National Championship in spite of the backlash that he received following his surprising exit from Notre Dame to be the Head Coach of LSU.

Coach Kelly shared with CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello that, “I’m happy for all those guys, I pull for them. A lot of the guys there that are on both sides of the ball, I recruited. Obviously, I want to see those guys win it all, and I think they’re in a great position. Totally excited for those guys.”

At the time, when Coach Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU, he described the decision as wanting, “to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a National Championship,” which came with an impassioned response from Irish fans and just general college football fans, who have since pointed out the irony of LSU not making the Playoff while Notre Dame competes for the National Championship and does not have to share it’s playoff revenue with any conference-mates.

“They’re selling it the way they want to sell it. Why do you leave Notre Dame? You leave Notre Dame because you’re taking another challenge. I took Notre Dame to championships. It’s just the way you want to twist it: ‘you only leave Notre Dame to go win a championship.’ I wasn’t leaving Notre Dame because I couldn’t win a championship. You can win championships at Notre Dame, but I chose another path because I wanted a different challenge.”

Tennessee and DC Tim Banks Finalizing Extension

ESPN’s Chris Low is reporting that Tennessee and DC Tim Banks are working on finalizing an extension.

Coach Banks has been a Broyles Award finalist in the past few years and has been an increasingly popular name in the coaching carousel. This extension should keep his name from seriously being in contention for leaving Tennessee, at least for a little bit.

Coach Banks was hired to Tennessee ahead of the 2021 season, having spent five seasons at Penn State as the Co-DC and Safeties coach, previously. Coach Banks was most recently linked to the DC opening at Penn State following DC Tom Allen leaving Penn State for Clemson.

In 2024, only Georgia, Ohio State, and Vanderbilt scored more than 20 points against the Tennessee defense.

2027 4-Star EDGE Ba’Roc Willis Decommits from Alabama

2027 4-Star EDGE Ba’Roc Willis decommitted from Alabama yesterday after originally committing to the Tide back in late July.

Willis decided to decommit due to wanting to see other schools this upcoming spring and summer, and he said he did not feel right doing that while being committed to Alabama.

Some schools Willis is looking to visit include, alphabetically, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, and Tennessee. Alabama also will remain in contention, as he still does really like Alabama and Coach Roach.

Willis ranks as the 53rd player nationally and the 9th rated EDGE in the 2027 class according to the On3 industry composite, though it is still incredibly early and hundreds, if not thousands, of great players have yet to get fully rated by various recruiting services yet.

Nebraska Pays Tribute to Superfan Jack Hoffman Following His Passing

Nebraska superfan Jack Hoffman passed away yesterday at the young age of 19 following a battle with cancer.

The Huskers official Twitter account posted, “Jack Hoffman embodied what it means to be a Husker every day through his courage, fight, and inspiration. We are heartbroken by his loss and send all our love to the Hoffman family.”

Hoffman first was on the national radar in the 2013 Spring Game for his touchdown run that won him an ESPY for being an inspiration, sparking a conversation about pediatric cancer, and being a catalyst for fundraising for pediatric brain cancer.

His battle with cancer lasted for 14-years, but, as it says on the Nebraska Twitter tribute, he is forever a Husker.

Other Commitments/Decommitments

2026 3-Star (89) EDGE Hunter Higgins commits to Kansas

2026 3-Star (88) WR Elias Coke commits to Rutgers

2026 3-Star (86) IOL Landen Von Seggern commits to Illinois

2026 3-Star (86) EDGE Dominic Funke commits to Boston College

3-Star (84) QB Kolton Matson commits to Central Washington

2-Star (79) WR Jerell Clement commits to Wayne State

Unrated K Landon Shaffer commits to Georgia Tech

2026 Unrated WR Phoenix Henriquez commits to Syracuse