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Pac-12 Has 'Top Targets' After Losing Colorado, Potentially More

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BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 10: The California Golden Bears offense huddles up as they face he Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on September 10, 2011 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

As the Big 12 continues to try and poach Pac-12 teams to join their ranks next year, the Pac-12 is targeting replacement schools to fill the void.

According to Will Backus of CBS Sports, the Pac-12 has a number of potential targets for expansion but two stand out as "top targets" for the embattled conference. Per the report, those two schools are San Diego State and SMU.

San Diego State would be a natural fit. Between its stellar basketball program, a football program with decent history and its proximity to the other schools in the conference, it's about as good as any school they can get. Their recent falling out with the Mountain West Conference might also make them an appealing option.

"There was a time it seemed like an issue of when, not if, San Diego State would join the Pac-12 -- and that was before Colorado announced its departure. The conference has a huge void in Southern California with USC and UCLA leaving for the greener pastures of the Big Ten, and San Diego State would go a way towards filling it. SDSU may have some complications leaving the Mountain West, however. It sent a letter to the conference on June 13 announcing its intentions to do so, but withdrew those intentions on June 30. Earlier this month, after clearing some financial hurdles, the Mountain West announced San Diego State would remain a member of the conference for the 2023-24 athletic season," Backus wrote.

As for the SMU Mustangs, its previous affiliation with some current members of the Pac-12 as a member of the Western Athletic Conference along with its footprint in Texas makes the school appealing to them as well. 

"SMU would have to pay a substantial exit fee if it wants to leave the AAC in time for the 2024 season, but the university would likely have donor support to do so if it meant joining a Power Five conference. SMU could be an attractive option given its Texas ties, providing the Pac-12 with a footprint in one of the country's football hotbeds. The Mustangs were a member of the Western Athletic Conference from 1996-2004," Backus wrote.

Which schools do you think the Pac-12 should target for expansion next?


Fans Saddened By Cause Of Death For Ray Lewis' Son

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It's taken a long while to gather the information, but the cause of death for Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis' son Ray Lewis III has been revealed.

TMZ reported this week that Lewis passed away from "a lethal mix of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs." The 28-year-old reportedly suffered an accidental overdose.

Per the report, the autopsy also found alcohol and generic Xanax in his system.

Fans were saddened to hear that Lewis lost his life in that way and hope that it becomes a rallying cry for people to stop taking drugs:

Ray Lewis III played college football at his father's alma mater Miami for a while before moving to Coastal Carolina. He later played professional indoor football for the Wyoming Mustangs for a time. 

“We will see you again,” Ray Lewis said at the funeral. “Twenty-eight years, watching my first-born child… the referees thought I was crazy running up and down the sideline.

“Everybody that’s here in this room today for my son, from the deepest corners of my family’s heart, thank you.

“My son used to always say to me, ‘Pops, let’s make today a good day.’ And today, now that I finally see my son’s physical body, you will make today a good day.”

ESPN Releases New College Basketball Preseason Top 25 Rankings

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 72-69 during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

There's three months to go before the start of the 2023-24 college basketball season but the predictions for the top 25 have been coming in since the day after UConn won the title in April.

ESPN recently released a new update to its "Way Too Early Top 25" for the 2023-24 NCAA basketball season. To little surprise, it's filled to the brim with blue bloods and Kansas got the top spot.

In fact, the only change to the top 10 in the most recent update is that Tennessee has dropped from sixth to eighth, with Houston and Gonzaga sliding up one spot apiece.

Here are the top 10 teams in ESPN's Way Too Early Top 25:

  1. Kansas
  2. Duke
  3. Purdue
  4. Michigan State
  5. UConn
  6. Houston
  7. Gonzaga
  8. Tennessee
  9. FAU
  10. Marquette

It will be interesting to see how things play out for Kansas and Houston this year. 

This will be Houston's first year in the Big 12 Conference after effectively ruling the American Athletic Conference for the past five years. If there's any team in a position to cut Bill Self and the Jayhawks down to size, it's Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars.

As for the rest of the ranking, there are a ton of teams that were either superb last year or had tremendous recruiting this past offseason.

Who will emerge as the dominant power in college hoops this year?

College Football Rivalry Is Coming To An End After 2025 Season

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Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Fans of "The Battle for the Iron Skillet" received some unfortunate news Wednesday. 

According to Chris Vannini of The Athletic, TCU and SMU will pause their rivalry after the 2025 season. It's unclear why the two sides will stop their series. 

TCU and SMU have already battled 101 times over the course of their rivalry. The Horned Frogs lead the series 52-42-7. 

On Sept. 23, TCU and SMU will square off in Fort Worth, Texas. This rivalry will then shift over to Dallas for the 2024 season.

It's worth noting that SMU coach Rhett Lashlee recently advocated for the school to continue its series with TCU. 

“We’ve got a couple of more years on the current deal,” Lashlee said in July. “The game has been played over 100 years. I don’t know why we wouldn’t play We are always willing to play them. I think it’s good for Texas football, I think it’s good for the Dallas Metroplex to have Dallas’ team and Fort Worth’s team playing.”

TCU and SMU are just 35 miles apart. Hopefully, they'll continue this series at a later date.

United States Sets New World Record In Mixed 4x400-Meter Relay

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BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 19: Rosey Effiong, Alexis Holmes, Matthew Boling and Justin Robinson of Team United States celebrate with the flag after winning the Gold Medal in the 4x400m Mixed Relay Final during day one of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 19, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

It's safe to say that Team USA is in good shape with the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris coming up next year. The latest group to dominate is the mixed 4x400m relay team.

During today's World Athletics Championships, the team of Justin Robinson, Rosey Effiong, Matt Boling and Alexis Holmes defeated the Netherlands in thrilling fashion to win the race and claim the gold medal. 

Netherlands runner Femke Bol stumbled at the finish line, allowing Holmes to cross in front for both the win and the record.

The group set a time of 3:08.80, which set a new world record for the mixed relay. They edged out Americans Wilbert London, Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo and Michael Cherry who set the previous record of 3:09.34 in Doha back in 2019. 

The United States were forced to settle for bronze at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Poland took gold in that race, with their team of Karol Zalewski, Natalia Kaczmarek, Justyna Swiety-Ersetic, Kajetan Duszynski setting a time of 3:09.87 in that race.

With the time that Team USA just recorded, redemption could be one summer away.

Will Team USA claim gold in the mixed 4x400m relay next year?

Prayers Pouring In For Family Of Former Houston Player Reggie Chaney

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 16: Houston Cougars forward Reggie Chaney walks on to the court during the college basketball game between the SMU Mustangs and the Houston Cougars on February 16, 2023, at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Reggie Chaney, a former college basketball player at Arkansas and Houston, died at age 23.

The Houston Chronicle's Joseph Duarte reported the tragic news Monday evening with no details of his cause of death. Observers mourned Chaney's loss on social media.

"I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of Reggie Chaney," former Arkansas head coach Corey Williams wrote. "Built a great relationship with him at the University of Arkansas, my heart is heavy. Praying for the Chaney family, gone way too soon."

"This is devastating news," former Houston sports anchor Daniel Gotera said. "Reggie was such a kind hearted young man. The epitome of UH basketball. Prayers to his family and the Houston program. Absolutely heartbreaking."

"In my few interactions with Reggie Chaney, it was always obvious that he was a great person and great teammate," The Cougar's Starns Leland said. "My thoughts and condolences are with his family and the UH basketball program. Rest in Peace."

"Awful, awful news," KPRC's Chancellor Johnson said Always enjoyed interacting with Reggie throughout my time covering him. Prayers to all of his family and friends."

"I'm absolutely speechless… what a tragic loss. Prayers for Reggie’s family," a fan said.

Chaney averaged 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds during 167 career games with the Razorbacks and Cougars. The forward started throughout Houston's Final Four run in 2021.

Our thoughts go out to Chaney's loved ones.

Fans Saddened By Death Of Former Final Four Player At 23

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Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

The college basketball community received heartbreaking news this week. Former Houston forward Reggie Chaney passed away Monday at the young age of 23. 

Chaney started his college career at Arkansas. He spent two years in the SEC before transferring to Houston. 

Last season, Chaney was named the American Athletic Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year. He averaged 3.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game. 

Basketball fans around the world are sending their thoughts and prayers to the Chaney family. 

"This is such a terrible loss for the @UHouston community, on the first day of a new academic year," one person said.

Another person replied, "Just so heartbreaking."

Chaney was set to join AE Psychikou, a professional basketball team in Greece. The club released the following statement on social media: "The family of A. E Psychikou, with a deep sorrow, announces that athlete Reggie Chaney who would become a member of our team, died last night in America, of unknown cause, at the age of just 23."

The cause of Chaney's death is unknown at this time. 

Jay Bilas 'Shocked' By Death Of Former Houston Basketball Player

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 26: ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas stands on the court before calling the Continental Tire Challenge between the Duke Blue Devils and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at T-Mobile Arena on November 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Blue Devils defeated the Bulldogs 84-81. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Former University of Houston basketball player Reggie Chaney has passed away at the age of 23. A cause of death has yet to be revealed.

Chaney was a key contributor to the basketball program and was on the team that made the Final Four in 2021. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game that season. 

When ESPN's Jay Bilas saw the news, he was "shocked."

"Shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of former Houston and Arkansas forward Reggie Chaney. Tough, reliable, and a selfless teammate, always. Heartbreaking. RIP Reggie Chaney," Bilas tweeted.

Chaney spent three seasons at Houston (including this most recent one) after transferring from Arkansas after two seasons. 

For his career, he averaged four points and three rebounds per game while shooting 63.2% from the floor.

Our thoughts are with Chaney's family and friends. 


Report: ACC Could Get $72 Million From ESPN If It Adds 3 Schools

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 04: A logo of the ACC Championship game during the Florida State Seminoles versus Virginia Tech Hokies during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

There's been a lot of pushback to the ACC's reported pursuit of Cal, SMU and Stanford in the next round of expansion. But as you might imagine, money appears to be keeping the talks alive.

According to Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger, the ACC is in line to receive an additional $72 million in added revenue from ESPN if it adds three more schools. 

The money would explain why talks have continued among the ACC powers that be rather than being dead on arrival as so many people within the ACC schools have hoped.

Dellenger noted that a timeline for the final decision is "murky." However, he asserted that confidence in a deal remains "high" with one source expecting that the expansion will pass.

Stanford and Cal are in pretty dire need of a home beyond the 2023-24 school year. The Pac-12 will be losing eight teams after this season.

Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA are going to the Big Ten Conference; Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah are going to the Big 12 Conference.

Meanwhile, SMU is part of an American Athletic Conference that they might feel that they've outgrown. 

The realignment hasn't stopped and may not stop for another couple of weeks.

ACC Realignment Meeting Postponed Following Shooting On Campus

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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 29: People walk on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill on June 29, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious admission policies used by Harvard and the University of North Carolina violate the Constitution, bringing an end to affirmative action in higher education. (Photo by Eros Hoagland/Getty Images)

Eros Hoagland/Getty Images

What was supposed to be a meeting to determine the future of the ACC's membership had to be postponed for a much more important reason.

According to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic, the ACC meeting to determine whether to admit Cal, SMU and Stanford is being postponed. The postponement comes amid a shooting that took place on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus earlier today.

“Tonight’s ACC meeting has been postponed following the on-campus shooting at UNC today, per source,” Auerbach wrote on X.

Thankfully, there are no reports on any shooting victims or fatalities as of writing. We all hope and pray that it stays that way. 

The ACC is reportedly mulling whether to add Pac-12 holdouts Cal and Stanford along with SMU due in no small part to a lucrative TV deal bonus they would gain if they added exactly three more schools.

The Pac-12 currently has only four teams on board for the 2024 season with only Cal, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State still at the school.

Now we may have to wait a long while before the fate of the three schools is decided.

There Are 11 College Football Games Tomorrow - Here's The Schedule

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 11: General view of a Utah Utes football helmet during the Utes game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)

After last week's college football appetizer it's finally time for the main course. 

We have our first College Football Saturday of the season this weekend, but a few more games to hold us over over the next few days.

On Thursday, we will be getting a full 11 games featuring FBS teams with a few Power Five matchups sprinkled in. The two big ones will be a battle of Urban Meyer's former teams in Florida and Utah, followed by a Big Ten West showdown between Nebraska and Minnesota.

Here is the full schedule of games for Thursday, August 31 (all times ET, Power Five schools in bold):

  • Elon at Wake Forest, 7 pm, ACC Network
  • Kent State at UCF, 7 pm, FS1
  • Rhode Island at Georgia State, 7 pm, ESPN+
  • St. Francis (PA) at Western Michigan, 7 pm, ESPN+
  • NC State at UConn, 7:30 pm, CBS Sports Network
  • Florida at No. 14 Utah, 8 pm, ESPN
  • Nebraska at Minnesota, 8 pm, FOX
  • South Dakota at Missouri, 8 pm, SEC Network
  • Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Tulsa, 8 pm, ESPN+
  • North Carolina A&T at UAB, 8 pm, ESPN+
  • Southern Utah at Arizona State, 10 pm, Pac-12 Network

There will be another six games on Friday before the main slate of games on Saturday. 

We're just hours away from beginning the best part of the year!

Houston Coach Dana Holgorsen On Texas, Texas A&M: "Screw Them"

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 04: Houston Cougars head coach Dana Holgorsen before the game against the Houston Cougars and the Cincinnati Bearcats on December 4, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Houston head football coach Dana Holgorsen is delighted to have his program in the Big 12 for the first time. But with Texas leaving and Texas A&M having departed nearly a decade ago, he weighed in on the schools that are leaving the conference.

During his recent radio show, Holgorsen admonished the Longhorns and Aggies for leaving the conference. He said that the Big 12 doesn't want them anymore anyway so they can do whatever they want.

“Screw them. They can go wherever they want. They don’t want us & we don’t want them," Holgorsen said.

That might be a bit of copium on Holgorsen's part. Texas A&M and Texas probably wouldn't have joined the SEC if they didn't have overwhelming value to add to the conference.

But Houston fans loved seeing Holgorsen go after the two Texas-based schools:

"The Big 12 should be so much fun this year with all of the animosity. It’s only going to get more heated," one user wrote.

"Starting to think this Big 12 will be a lot of fun this year," wrote a Baylor fan.

"Gotta love Dana man! Says what's on his and doesn't care what anyone else thinks," a third said.

Houston play Texas on October 21. They don't have Texas A&M anywhere on their regular season schedule for a while though.

ACC Reportedly Makes Decision On Cal, SMU, Stanford

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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - SEPTEMBER 16: A detailed view of the Atlantic Coast Conference logo on a pylon during the game between the Boston College Eagles and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Alumni Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

After being left out of the NCAA realignment frenzy over the past year, the Atlantic Coast Conference has decided to get in on the action.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the presidents and chancellors of the ACC met early on Friday morning and voted to invite Cal, SMU and Stanford to the conference. If the three schools accept (and there's every reason to believe they will), they will officially join the ACC for the 2024-25 school year.

Cal and Stanford were two of only four schools that didn't get an invitation to join the Big Ten or Big 12 this offseason. They will represent the first West Coast teams to join the ACC since its founding in 1953. 

SMU, meanwhile, has been enjoying a renaissance in sports lately after decades as an NCAA cellar-dweller. With one of the largest endowments in the conference, they're understandably seeking greener pastures.

The impending departure of Cal and Stanford will leave Oregon State and Washington State as the only remaining Pac-12 teams. There are rumors that they are already being recruited by other conferences though and could be given an invitation elsewhere before the end of the year.

The college sports landscape is changing, but this year's realignment might be the most impactful of our lifetimes.

Alabama Football Team Ate An Alligator On Tuesday Night

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TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide leads the team onto the field prior to facing the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Alabama Crimson Tide are heading to the Sunshine State for a tilt with the South Florida Bulls. With a trip to the alligator capital of America coming up, they decided to change their menu to mark the occasion.

Taking to Instagram, Alabama players Jaylen Key, Ty Lockwood and Wilkin Formby revealed that the team served an entire alligator in its cafeteria last night. The photo shows an alligator carcass on a table with massive chunks of meat taken out of it.

Clearly somebody at Alabama has some experience in cooking alligator whole. That reptile looks big enough to feed an entire team. 

In hindsight, maybe serving up a whole steer would have been a better choice for the Crimson Tide's dinner. USF's team is nicknamed the Bulls. It's SEC rival Florida that goes by the Gators.

Alabama are looking to rebound after their stunning loss to the Texas Longhorns last weekend.

The loss was so bad that many are wondering if Alabama has the same intimidation factor that helped lead it to all of those national championships over the last 15 years. 

The Crimson Tide play the Bulls at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will air on ABC.

Alabama Fans Are Not Pleased With Team's Performance vs. South Florida

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TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

When fans saw that Alabama would be playing South Florida in Week 3, most assumed it would be among their easiest wins of the year. But through one quarter of play, that's been far from the case.

Alabama were held scoreless in the first quarter and found themselves trailing 3-0 heading into the second. It's rare enough that Alabama fails to score in the first quarter against any team, let alone a team from the Group of Five like USF.

The biggest culprits have been the Alabama special teams unit and newly-minted starter Tyler Buchner. The special teams botched a punt that gave USF great field position for their lead-taking field goal, while Buchner has struggled mightily in his first start for the Crimson Tide.

As a result, it should be no big shock that Alabama fans are downright shellshocked. Many are demanding a quarterback change while others are shocked that the team is in the state that it's in with the quarterback position:

Alabama should be able to put USF away in the second quarter or the second half. But their slow start will likely result in them falling in the rankings regarding of the end result.

The game is being played on ABC. It is currently in weather delay.


Fans Are Getting Frustrated By Alabama-USF Broadcast

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via ABC

As Alabama headed into halftime against USF tied at a mere 3-3, Crimson Tide fans might have called it one of the worst performances from the team they've ever seen. Or at least, they would have if they could actually see the action on the field.

Inclement weather in Florida seems to have messed with the ABC cameras to the point that only a few are actually working. The decision was made to reduce the number of camera operators for safety reasons as lightning in the area could pose a danger to staffers.

And the angles that the network has been providing aren't good at all.

Right now the only real camera angles being used are from an endzone perspective camera and from an off-balance overhead view that can struggles to give a wide perspective of the field.

Some fans are fuming while others feel that it's fitting given how terrible the Crimson Tide have actually played today: 

Win or lose, Alabama is putting up one of the worst performances we've seen from a top 10 team against an unranked Group of Five team in ages and their ranking next week will probably plummet as a result even if they come alive and wind up beating USF by 28.

At least Alabama fans won't have to see their team frustrate them in 4K.

We Finally Have A Touchdown In This Awful Alabama-USF Game

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FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - OCTOBER 1: Roydell Williams #5 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates on the sidelines after his team scored a touchdown during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 1, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Crimson Tide defeated the Razorbacks 49-26. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

For a good while it seemed like the Alabama-USF game would turn into a mirror of the 2011 game between Alabama and LSU. But unlike that iconic, low-scoring game, this one finally has a touchdown.

In the middle of the third quarter, with both teams tied at 3-3, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson took the reins and started marching the Crimson Tide down the field. A 45-yard pass from Simpson to CJ Dippre helped them flip the field and then Roydell Williams took over with some big runs, culminating in a 1-yard score to give Alabama their first lead of the game.

Yes, you heard us: Their first lead of the game. Against USF.

But a lead is a lead and Alabama finally has theirs.

This has been one of the most stunning performances we've seen from Alabama's offense in Nick Saban's entire tenure with the program. At least in their 9-6 loss to LSU 12 years ago they had the excuse of going up against an elite defense.

But this South Florida team has given up 65 points over the last two weeks to Western Kentucky and Florida A&M. 

Alabama's problem is clearly an internal one.

The game is being played on ABC.

USF Quarterback Giving Alabama Fits Has 1 Very Funny Stat

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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

USF found itself down by just a touchdown in the fourth quarter to Nick Saban's Crimson Tide and that was with little-to-no passing game.

Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown has helped keep the Bulls in the game and he's been tearing the Alabama defense up... within five yards. Per an ABC graphic, Brown is 10-of-11 on passes five yards or shorter but is just 1-of-9 on anything beyond that.

"When Byrum Brown learns how to complete a pass over 5 yards it's over for you hoes," a fan joked.

South Florida has put up a really good effort against No. 10 Bama thanks to a strong defensive effort and some solid work on the ground. 

However, if the Bulls want to walk off of their home field with a win they're going to need to connect on something past the sticks before this one's over.

Brown has given Saban's defense fits with his legs, as he's almost passed the century mark.

Now let's see if he can pull something out of his hat with 6:29 to go.

UCF Had The Craziest 4th-Down Conversion Ever On Saturday

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FS1

What a sequence down in Orlando on Saturday night.

On a gotta have it fourth down with a minute left in the final quarter, the UCF Knights were able to convert a 4th-and-5 despite quarterback Timmy McClain being backed up from the 25 all the way into his own endzone.

It's definitely one you've got to see to believe:

Fans went wild about it on social media.

"In terms of pure bananas plays, amid perhaps the wildest game of the year, it's tough to top this first-down conversion," said ESPN's Pete Thamel.

"It doesn't get wilder than this, with the game on the line," tweeted Stewart Mandel.

"'What the... how in the...?!?!' ... *remembers UCF is coached by Gus Malzahn* ... 'Oh. That'll happen.'"

"I mean the announcing here is just downright electric," a user saluted.

"This is what Jameis Winston believes is possible on every play," replied Ted Nguyen.

Unreal.

UCF Has Made Decision On Head Coach Gus Malzahn

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ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Gus Malzahn of the UCF Knights watches the game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Military Bowl Presented by Peraton at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 28, 2022 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

G Fiume/Getty Images

Gus Malzahn will remain the head coach of UCF's football program for the foreseeable future.  

On Thursday, ESPN's Pete Thamel broke the news that Malzahn agreed to a contract extension through the 2027 season. He agreed to this deal early this summer. 

Malzahn's salary was raised to $4 million per year this past July. His salary will increase to $5.5 million in 2026 and 2027.

Thamel added that UCF's extension for Malzahn is part of the school's plan as it adjusts to life in the Big 12. 

"The raise and extension are part of UCF’s transition plan to the Big 12, which the school calls 'Mission XII.' The new deal puts him more in line with the Big 12, as he would have entered UCF’s first in the Big 12 as the lowest-paid Power 5 coach without the adjustment," Thamel said.

UFC is currently 3-2 in its first season as a member of the Big 12. The two losses came to Baylor and Kansas State. 

Malzahn will try to lead UCF to its first conference win of the season this Saturday against Kansas.

Fans React To UCF's Decision On Head Coach Gus Malzahn

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Gus Malzahn of the UCF Knights reacts during the first half of a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at FBC Mortgage Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

After a 3-0 start to the season, UCF have fallen back to earth with back-to-back losses against Kansas State and Baylor to begin their tenure as Big 12 members. That two-game losing stream has some people surprised by the school's decision on head coach  Gus Malzahn.

According to college football insider Pete Thamel, UCF and Malzahn have agreed to terms on a contract extension that runs through 2027. Per the report, the agreement was reached earlier this year and will raise his salary to $4 million this year and $5.5 million in 2026 and 2027.

"Sources: UCF and coach Gus Malzahn have agreed to a contract extension through the 2027 season. Malzahn agreed to terms early this summer and the school raised his salary to $4 million per year on July 1. The deal rises to $5.5 million annually in 2026 and 2027," Thamel wrote.

Fans were stunned that Malzahn would get a contract extension before UCF began being a Power Five team. As a result, they were even more stunned that such an announcement would come right after a loss where they blew a 28-point lead against Baylor:

Gus Malzahn went 18-9 in his first two seasons with the UCF Knights, leading them to the AAC Championship Game in his second year.

But that was all before the Knights moved to the Big 12.

Do you think Malzahn deserved this extension?

UCF Player Blew Kiss To Oklahoma Sideline On Long Touchdown

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: A UCF Knights helmet sits on the field after the UCF Knights defeated the Baylor Bears 52-42 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2014 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

Getty

UCF wide receiver Javon Baker had some fun with the Oklahoma sideline on Saturday. 

After catching the ball, he started to run down the field and had nobody near him, so he blew a kiss to the Oklahoma sideline.

Here's a look:

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables was not a happy camper, that's for sure.

This 86-yard touchdown gave UCF the lead for a brief time before Oklahoma got a field goal before the half to tie the game at 17. 

UCF then started the second half with a field goal and now leads 20-17. 

The Sooners are getting quite the battle from the Knights even though they have completely different records. The Sooners are 6-0 and are trying to stay in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff while the Knights are 3-3 and trying to play spoiler.

You can watch the rest of this matchup on ABC.


Brent Venables Was Furious With UCF Player Taunting Oklahoma's Sideline

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NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners greets team members before a game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 33-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Oklahoma's Brent Venables was heated after UCF wide receiver Javon Baker blew a kiss towards the Sooners' sideline as he housed a long touchdown pass on Saturday.

Venables lost his mind following the play, stepping out onto the field and giving officials (and his defense) an earful for the Knights player's antics.

Fans got a kick out of it on Twitter.

"Soft," a user said.

"This game is funny as hell," another replied.

"Don't like it? Don't lose," a fan tweeted.

"Gotta be smarter than that," commented Connie Carberg. "Can't believe he didn't get called on it by Javon Baker."

"this sound dope as hell actually," another person said. "no penalty."

"He would not have to worry about this if his defense had simply covered the receiver," a UCF alum posted.

"Filled his diaper over UCF yikes," another said.

"lmaoooooooooo."

UCF has come into Memorial Stadium and refused to lay down. The Knights lead by six with a quarter and a half to go.

No. 6 Oklahoma Is In Serious Trouble Against Unranked Opponent

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NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners greets team members before a game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 33-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Just two weeks ago the Oklahoma Sooners pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season with a win over the Texas Longhorns. But it looks like they could be on the verge of suffering a bigger upset.

As of writing, the Sooners are trailing 23-17 to the unranked UCF Knights late in the third quarter. Oklahoma missed two field goals in the first quarter and those lost points have cost them as UCF has stayed with them all game.

Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been efficient with the exception of a costly turnover on the opening drive of the third quarter that led to a UCF field goal. 

But the play of the game was obviously this 86-yard touchdown catch and run from Javon Baker, who blew the Oklahoma defense a kiss en route to the endzone and the Knights' second lead of the game.

Oklahoma has the ability to mount a comeback with a full quarter remaining in the game. But the fact that UCF - a team with a 3-3 record and an 0-3 record in the Big 12 this year - is taking them down to the wire doesn't bode well for the Sooners over these final six games.

Can the Sooners mount a comeback and avoid an awful loss?

The game is being played on ABC.

Referees Getting Torched For Game-Changing Bad Call In Texas-Houston

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(Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

Getty

There's nothing more disheartening in football than seeing an upset attempt undone by a terrible call by the officials. Sadly, that's exactly what fans were treated to in today's Texas-Houston game.

On 3rd-and-1 for Houston with the Cougars trailing the Longhorns 31-24 with less than two minutes to go in today's game, Houston's running back ran the ball up the left side and appeared to get past the first down marker. But after referees convened to spot the ball, something wild happened.

Not only did the officials rule the ball carrier short of the first down, the ball was spotted around half a yard short. Video evidence shows that at the very least the ball carrier had forward progress beyond where the ball was spotted.

Fans have been taking to social media for a good while now to completely rip the referees for how they called the game. Many have declared that they deliberately fixed the game to help the Longhorns win:

Houston wound up going for the first down on what was then ruled fourth down and failed to convert, allowing the Texas Longhorns to kneel the ball down for a win.

This one is going to sting for a while - especially with it being the last game between the two schools for a good while. 

Group Of 5 Program Is Trailing By 60 Points This Saturday

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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO - DECEMBER 17: SMU Mustangs helmets are placed on the sideline during the second half of the New Mexico Bowl game between the Mustangs and the Brigham Young Cougars at University Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Cougars defeated the Mustangs 24-23. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)

Sam Wasson/Getty Images

When there's a blowout by upwards of eight touchdowns the team on the losing side is usually an FCS or even a Division II program. But right now it's a Group of Five team getting humiliated by one of their rivals.

After three quarters of today's game between SMU and Tulsa, the SMU Mustangs were leading the Golden Hurricanes by a score of 66-3. And there's still a full quarter to play.

SMU scored 28 points in the first quarter and added another 24 in the second quarter for a 52-3 halftime lead. The Mustangs pulled their foot off the gas in the third quarter but still added another 14 points while Tulsa remained scoreless. 

Fans on X can hardly believe how much pain SMU is inflicting on Tulsa:

This isn't the first time that SMU has dropped 60 on a team. Earlier this year they scored 69 points on Prairie View A&M. But the Panthers are an FCS team.

Last week they beat AAC cellar-dweller Temple 55-0. Very impressive.

But this is just downright brutal.

Tulsa isn't exactly a great defense though. They lost 66-17 to Oklahoma back in September. 

The "game" is being played on ESPNU. 

NFL Orders College Football Program To Stop Wearing Uniform

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(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

The NFL is reportedly stepping in and putting an end to one of the Houston Cougars' alternate uniforms.

Per Dov Kleiman (via the Houston Chronicle), the NFL has ordered Houston to stop wearing its Oilers-inspired white helmets and powder blue uniforms, citing trademark infringement.

Fans were annoyed by it on social media.

"The Houston Rockets wore Oilers themed uniforms. What gives?" a user asked.

"I literally could have a box of crayolas and come up with better uniforms than the ones the Titans inflict on fans," another said.

"That uniforms belongs to the City of Houston!" a fan exclaimed. "If a school in Houston wanna rock the color wave then they can. I'm not on this one Roger."

"You have to actually show you're using it though. Trotting it out 1 or 2 days in a year isn't using it to the point that another team using it 'infringes' upon their trademark. Take it to court," an account commented.

"Houston using the oilers look makes more sense then the damn titans. Team history or not, should've left the look in Houston."

For real?

Nasty Weather Impacting College Football Game This Afternoon

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Heavy rain during a game between UCF and No. 15 Oklahoma State.

@SportsCenter/Twitter

We're currently dealing with some weather conditions in Orlando, Florida.

The sky opened up in the middle of Saturday's game between UCF and Oklahoma State and completely drenched the field but they're playing through it at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

Fans couldn't believe the conditions on social media.

"They are playing in a hurricane," a user laughed.

"thats a disrupting one..." another said.

"UCF plans the downpour during the game. They knew Oklahoma State can't handled the rain," a fan theorized.

"Surely UCF will maintain a big lead at home," commented Our Daily Bears.

"God crying from how bad UCF beating Oklahoma State," another person replied.

"If you needed another reason to believe that God is a #Sooner, look no further than this DOWNPOUR that Okst is having to play in !!" a Norman native tweeted.

"Welcome to Florida whenever it gets near 90 degrees about anytime of the year," another user said.

The Golden Knights are up 24-0 at half.

3 Former College Football Players Killed In Car Accident

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(Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

It was a horrific Saturday for the Houston Cougars football program as they said goodbye to three former players over the weekend.

In a car wreck that took the life of 2013 first-round pick D.J. Hayden, two other ex-Cougars also lost their lives in Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu. All of them were in their early 30s.

Per a statement from the university:

The entire University of Houston community is heartbroken over the tragic passing of former Football student-athletes D.J. Hayden, Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu earlier today, and our thoughts and prayers remain with Jeffery Lewis in his recovery ahead. We extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones, as we collectively mourn the loss of three individuals who made an indelible impact on each life they touched. While their combined talents provided Houston Football some of its most unforgettable moments, their unique legacies will best be remembered for the way they loved their teammates, supported their communities and defied the odds.

We certainly send our best to all three of the mourning families, as well as the others involved in the accident.


UCF Issues Statement After Video Goes Viral Of Man Claiming To Be UCF Football Player

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Gus Malzahn of the UCF Knights reacts during the first half of a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at FBC Mortgage Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

UCF football found itself in an unexpected position on Tuesday evening.

This afternoon, a video went viral on TikTok showing a group of young people who supposedly cut others in line. 

In the NSFW clip, which can be found in full here, one of the people claims to be a UCF football player.

However, according to a statement from the UCF program, the man in question is not and never has been a player for the Knights.

"The individual in the video on TikTok is not a member of our football team and never has been," UCF's statement reads.

It looks like this is the case of someone trying to seem more important than they are by claiming they play Division I football. 

Can't blame UCF for acting quickly and getting it out there that this isn't one of their players behaving in this embarrassing fashion.

The Knights, who finished 6-6 in their inaugural season in the Big 12, are busy preparing for their upcoming Gasparilla Bowl matchup against Georgia Tech on Dec. 22.

Former Ohio State Running Back Evan Pryor Announces Transfer Destination

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BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 23: Ohio State Buckeyes running back Evan Pryor (21) rushes away from Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Micah McFadden (47) during the Big Ten conference college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers on October 23, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Former Ohio State running back Evan Pryor won't have to leave Ohio to continue his college football career.

Pryor announced Wednesday morning that he will transfer to Cincinnati. He'll have three years of eligibility remaining.

"All Glory to God," Pryor captioned his Instagram announcement.

A former four-star, top 100 recruit in the class of 2021, the 5-foot-11, 198-pound Pryor appeared in four games as a freshman. He rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, finding the end zone against Akron.

A knee injury wiped out Pryor's 2022 season and 2023 spring practice, but he returned to play in four games this fall, rushing for 49 yards on 19 carries. 

Pryor's most significant action this season came against Michigan State (seven carries for 20 yards) and Minnesota (six carries for 15 yards, one catch for two yards).

Pryor is one of two OSU running backs to enter the transfer portal since the end of the season, along with Chip Trayanum, who announced a commitment to Kentucky this week.

Former College Football Quarterback Kirk Rygol Has Died

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GREENVILLE, NC - OCTOBER 26: South Florida Bulls quarterback Kirk Rygol (17) scrambles away from East Carolina Pirates defensive lineman Hozey Haji-Badri (95) during a game between the USF Bulls and the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, NC on October 26, 2019. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

The college football world lost a valued member far too early today as former South Florida quarterback Kirk Rygol passed away. He was 24 years old.

Rygol's family announced in a GoFundMe that he passed away this past Sunday. The family is raising money in order to pay for his funeral service.

"Hello family and friends, with a heavy heart and deep sadness, my nephew, Kirk Rygol Jr, passed away Sunday evening. He was only 24, and we miss him terribly. Our family is reaching out for help to cover the funeral expenses for my nephew," the family wrote.

Rygol played for USF during the 2019 season, completing 12 of 24 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns over five games. He also had nine carries for 29 yards in what was his only year on the field.

"Our thoughts & prayers are with the friends & family of Kirk Rygol, a member of the 2019 team," USF Football said in a statement. They also shared a link to the family's GoFundMe page.

Our hearts go out to Rygol's family and loved ones during this difficult time.

ESPN Broadcast Wanted To Talk About Anything Other Than Horrible Bowl Game Last Night

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BOCA RATON, FL - DECEMBER 21: South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) rushes for a first down on a keeper play during the RoomClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl game between the Syracuse Orange and the South Florida (USF) Bulls (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Yesterday's Boca Raton Bowl game was supposed to pit 6-6 South Florida against 6-6 Syracuse. But the Bulls were really the only team that showed up yesterday.

USF raced out to a 31-0 halftime lead that completely demoralized the Syracuse Orange. The game got so lopsided that the ESPN announcer team didn't even want to talk about the game by the end of the third quarter.

With just 1:02 remaining in the third, Matt Barrie and Dan Mullen started joking about wanting to find other things to talk about once the game reached a 38-0 USF lead. They debated between talking about the new season of The Crown or ranking all-time great Christmas movies.

“In the 4th quarter, I’d like to talk about everything that bugs me about Love, Actually," one of them suggested. 

Ultimately, USF won the game 45-0 with quarterback Byrum Brown leading the Bulls in both passing and rushing.

After depriving us of any bowl games to watch on Wednesday, it might have been better to not have any bowl game on Thursday at all than for it to be one as lopsided as that one.

Did you watch the entire game?

Report: Favorite Emerging For Arkansas QB Transfer KJ Jefferson

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FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - SEPTEMBER 03: K.J. Jefferson #1 hands off the ball to Raheim Sanders #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks during a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Bearcats 31-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

KJ Jefferson is one of the top quarterbacks on the transfer portal. There could be a new frontrunner for his services.

According to On3's Pete Nakos, UCF is the top team to watch for Jefferson. He told Andy Staples that the Arkansas transfer is "trending" towards the Knights, but it's not a done deal.

Jefferson happened to post a photo of him flying into Orlando on Wednesday afternoon.

Jefferson entered the portal after throwing for 19 touchdowns in his fifth season at Arkansas. He'd leave as the school's all-time leader in career passing yards (7,911) and touchdowns (67).

While Jefferson led the Razorbacks to winning records and bowl victories in back-to-back years, they faltered in 2023. Arkansas went 4-8 with just one SEC win over Florida. 

Meanwhile, UCF cemented its first losing record since 2016 when suffering a 30-17 loss to Georgia Tech in the Gasparilla Bowl. The Knights went 3-6 against Big 12 opponents during their inaugural year in the Power Five conference.

John Rhys Plumlee accounted for 20 touchdowns in his final year of collegiate eligibility. Gus Malzahn is thus likely in the market for an experienced replacement who can keep UCF competitive in a Big 12 that expands to 16 teams in 2024.

On3 ranks Jefferson as the fourth-best available quarterback in the transfer portal behind Will Howard, Cam Ward, and  DJ Uiagalelei. They're predicting Howard will replace Caleb Williams in USC while Ward transfers to Miami.

There Are 4 Bowl Games On Thursday - Here's The Schedule

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NORMAN, OK - APRIL 23: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners stands with his team for the alma mater during their spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 23, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Yesterday saw our first games with ranked teams of this college football bowl season. Today there will be a few more.

There are four college football bowl games on the schedule for today and they feature five teams currently ranked in the top 25. 

At 11 a.m. ET is the Fenway Bowl between No. 24 SMU (11-2) and Boston College (6-6) at the iconic Fenway Park baseball stadium. Right as that game should be wrapping up will be another game at a baseball stadium.

At 2:15 p.m. we have the Pinstripe Bowl between Rutgers (6-6) and Miami (7-5) at Yankee Stadium. It will be Rutgers' third Pinstripe Bowl appearance and the Hurricanes' second.

At 5:45 p.m. is the Pop-Tarts Bowl between No. 18 N.C. State (9-3) and No. 25 Kansas State (8-4). The winner of that bowl game will receive one of the most unique trophies in college bowl games. 

Finally at 9:15 p.m. we will have the Alamo Bowl between No. 14 Arizona (9-3) and No. 12 Oklahoma (10-2) in a battle of a future Big 12 school and a future SEC school.

All games will be played on ESPN.

Which of the bowl games do you plan on watching?

Weather For Bowl Game At Fenway Park Today Looks Miserable

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 26: A general view of Fenway Park after a rain storm before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on August 26, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The Fenway Park Bowl between SMU and Boston College is underway at Fenway Park in Boston and it's safe to say that people aren't enjoying the weather there right now.

Reporter Jim Weber noted that the temperature at Fenway Park is currently 43 degrees. Making it worse is that it's raining.

You can tell by just watching the game that the players, coaches and all of the staffers are getting soaked. 

Fans have been complaining ever since the game started nearly an hour ago:

When we think about football weather we usually think about cold weather and either snow or biting wind. But sloppy weather on the ground hasn't really been a thing in ages since most teams have transitioned away from playing on fields that aren't perfectly manicured grass or turf.

The Fenway Bowl is certainly offering a change of pace, just maybe not a welcome one for the fans right now.


5 Biggest Snubs in College Football Playoff History

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KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs looks on against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first quarter at Neyland Stadium on November 18, 2023 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Eakin Howard/Getty Images

2023 marks the final year of the four-team College Football Playoff and while hindsight shows that the national champion of each year was ultimately deserving, there are still a few teams that seem like they were robbed of a chance to at least prove themselves on a bigger stage.

This may not be as big of a problem in future years with the College Football Playoff expanding to a dozen teams. 

So we're taking a look back at a handful of teams that may have gotten the short end of the stick in 10-year run of the four-team College Football Playoff:

2014 TCU Horned Frogs: 11-1, No. 3 final ranking

FORT WORTH, TX - DECEMBER 06: Head coach Gary Patterson of the TCU Horned Frogs leads his team onto the field before the Big 12 college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Amon G. Carter Stadium on December 6, 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Horned Frongs defeated the Cyclones 55-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The first-ever College Football Playoff saw the TCU Horned Frogs obliterate nearly all of their opposition with the lone setback coming in the form of a 61-58 shootout loss to Baylor. At the end of the regular season, TCU were ranked No. 3 in the nation. But at the time, the Big 12 Conference did not have a championship game, so they did not have the benefit of a 13th game and rematch against Baylor to avenge the loss.

With no extra game, TCU were dropped from No. 3 to No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings while Ohio State stepped into their place en route to winning the national title. 

TCU would make quick and easy work of Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl to finish ranked No. 3 in the nation.

2016 Penn State Nittany Lions: 11-2, No. 7 final ranking

PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds his team back as they prepare to take the field against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Point Solutions Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The early 2010s were perhaps the most miserable period of being a Penn State football field in the storied program's history. But after five straight seasons with nine wins or less, James Franklin finally completed the program's turnaround in 2016.

After a 2-2 start, the Nittany Lions blew away their opposition - including taking down then-No. 2 Ohio State in a hard-fought 24-21 win - en route to a 10-2 regular season finish and a Big Ten Championship win over Wisconsin to go 11-2. 

But that was the year where the College Football Playoff Selection Committee made it abundantly clear that a two-loss team would never get priority over a one-loss team. As a result, despite Penn State having beaten them, Ohio State got the spot in the College Football Playoff and went on to be trounced by eventual national champion Clemson.

Penn State could not finish the season on a high note as they lost to USC in the Rose Bowl. 

2017 UCF Knights: 12-0, No. 6 final ranking

CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 07: Head coach Scott Frost of the UCF Knights looks on against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the second half at Nippert Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Arguably the best Group of Five team of the past decade, the 2017 UCF Knights proved what everyone pretty much already knew: There's a double standard when comparing the resume of a Group of Five school to their Power Five counterparts.

Under the leadership of Scott Frost, UCF scored at least 31 points in every game, won the AAC title but were ranked nowhere close to the top four that year. 

However, UFC's stunning 34-27 win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl left them as the sole undefeated team in FBS that year and they wound up receiving a few national title votes and even held their own national championship parade.

To date, only one Group of Five team (2021 Cincinnati) have made the College Football Playoff.

2018 Ohio State Buckeyes: 12-1, No. 3 final ranking

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 1: Quarterback Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes throws a pass in the first quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Ohio Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

You can argue that 2018 was the year that Ohio State truly became a pass-first team and a Heisman finalist season from the late-great Dwayne Haskins was the reason for it. 

Haskins shredded defenses and the Ohio State record book with 4,831 passing yards and 50 touchdowns that year, but a loss to Purdue followed by narrow wins over Nebraska and Maryland resulted in the high-octane Buckeyes being left out of the College Football Playoff in favor of fellow 12-1 conference champion Oklahoma.

The Buckeyes went on to beat Washington in the Rose Bowl in what would also be Urban Meyer's final year at Ohio State. 

2023 Georgia Bulldogs: 12-1, final ranking TBD

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts in the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at SoFi Stadium on January 09, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The 2023 Georgia Bulldogs were two-time defending national champions and had dispatched nearly all of their opponents with ease. But after a narrow loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, the Bulldogs went from No. 1 to out of the College Football Playoff top four altogether and were dropped to No. 6.

The Bulldogs clearly took that personally.

The response from the Bulldogs was an Orange Bowl beatdown of undefeated Florida State (another team that could have made this list) of historic proportions. 

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Of all the snubs on this list, few will likely go down as more egregious than the 2023 Georgia Bulldogs. 

Hopefully that won't be a problem in the future.

Dana Holgorsen Reportedly Close To Landing Job At Nebraska

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 04: Houston Cougars head coach Dana Holgorsen before the game against the Houston Cougars and the Cincinnati Bearcats on December 4, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Getty Images.

After five years as head coach of the Houston Cougars, Dana Holgorsen was fired as the team's head coach. But he's in line to land on his feet in a pretty big way.

According to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Holgorsen is in talks with Nebraska about a role on Matt Rhule's staff. It's not clear what the role will be but given his history of working with quarterbacks and offenses it will likely be something in support of the offensive side of the ball.

Holgorsen went 31-28 in five seasons at Houston and 61-41 in eight previous years at West Virginia. He's had four top 20 teams during his career as a head coach.

Dana Holgorsen joins a Nebraska team that went 5-7 under Matt Rhule but once again failed to reach bowl season due in no small part to an offense that ranked 123rd out of 133 teams in the country.

If Holgorsen can offer any kind of spark to the Huskers' offense, it could be the difference between the team reaching a long-awaited bowl game and continuing to spin its wheels.

Do you think Holgorsen will make an impact at Nebraska?

Report: Jim Harbaugh Leaving Michigan After National Title Game

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PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on before the CFP Semifinal Rose Bowl Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2024 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Harry How/Getty Images

Is Jim Harbaugh coaching his final college football game on Monday evening?

According to some reports, the answer is yes.

Some reports suggest that Harbaugh will be leaving the University of Michigan - and college football - following the College Football Playoff national title game on Monday night.

ESPN's college football analyst, Paul Finebaum, says that Harbaugh is 100 percent leaving following the game, as he's bound for the NFL.

“This isn’t a mystery. Jim Harbaugh will not be there...," Paul Finebaum said. 

"He’s heavily in demand by the NFL. And I think that’s a scary thing, though. Because unlike the past couple of playoff appearances where he was tight and making really stupid decisions — I mean, this guy lost to TCU last year, which became a punchline for every pundit in the country this year during the CFP conversation about FSU.

That, to me, is the intangible. Jim Harbaugh, really, doesn’t have anything to fear.”

The Ringer founder Bill Simmons, meanwhile, is hearing that Harbaugh will land in Washington, not Los Angeles.

It'll be fascinating to see how it all develops.

Where do you ultimately see Harbaugh landing?

Kelvin Sampson Has Blunt Message For Texas Fans Complaining About 'Horns Down'

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(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Houston's Kelvin Sampson isn't trying to hear any complaints from the Longhorns faithful about the "Horns Down" situation.

Speaking on Rodney Terry's recent tirade following the UCF game, the Cougars head coach called out the hypocrisy of Texas getting upset about it while referring to the school's fight song and pointing to the Sooners for starting the whole thing off.

Are you kidding me? University of Texas has 'OU sucks' in their fight song for God's sake. I mean look at their fight song, it says: 'OU sucks.' ... I think [Oklahoma] is the one that started the 'Horns Down.'

Sampson went on to add that UT should really take the gesture as a positive given all of the school's success.

In an indirect way, the University of Texas should actually take it as a compliment. Because they have such a great athletic department and they've kind of been a department that's defined by how much success that they've had in the past. But I know this... you've gotta be really, really good for people to hate you.

Sampson, of course, has first-hand knowledge of how intense things can get on that 94 feet from his days in Norman.

His No. 5 Houston squad heads to the Moody Center on Jan. 29 where they'll take on the 13-5 Longhorns at 9 PM ET on ESPN.

Patrick Mahomes Doesn't Hold Back His Thoughts On Being A Villain

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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 17: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs calls a play during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Patrick Mahomes has become the villain of the NFL.

That's what happens when you're great. It happened to Tom Brady and the Patriots and now, Mahomes and the Chiefs have taken over that title.

Mahomes understands it.

"I can definitely sense it. I never felt like that because I've never been like that in my entire life. But it's become a little bit funny. I don't want to say you enjoy it. I know the Patriots had that for a while. I'm hoping we do it in a different way with a little bit more fun and personality with it. But as long as you keep winning, teams start to not like you, and I want to keep winning. So if that means some of the other teams and other fan bases aren't going to like me, I'll try to still have a smile on my face and not be a bad example, but I can be that villain for them if they need me to be," Mahomes told ESPN.

Mahomes can add to his villain status this weekend.

The Chiefs and the 49ers are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. E.T. on Sunday night.

The game will air on CBS.

Kelvin Sampson Was Not Happy With Reporter's Question After Being Ejected

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 28: Head coach Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Cougars coaches during a practice session ahead of the NCAA Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at the Sprint Center on March 28, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Houston basketball coach Kelvin Sampson was ejected from last night's game against Oklahoma State. The referees didn't exactly appreciate that he screamed at them. 

During his postgame press conference, Sampson had a fiery response when asked to share his thoughts on his ejection. 

"I have no thoughts,” Sampson said. “So, if I say something and answer your question, they fine me $25,000. What part of $25,000 are you willing to pay? So, don’t ask me silly questions, because it’s a $25,000 fine if I tell the truth. I can’t, so don’t ask me.”

To be fair, Sampson is doing what's best for his wallet. There's no point in him making a comment that'll cost him $25,000. 

Despite losing Sampson with roughly 15 minutes left in the second half, the Cougars defeated the Cowboys by 16 points. Jamal Shead led Houston with 23 points in 29 minutes.

Houston will be back in action this Saturday against Cincinnati. We'll see if Sampson can stay composed for all 40 minutes.

College Football Analyst Names Best, Worst '24 Head Coaching Hires

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath interviews Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer following the Semifinal All State Sugar Bowl football game between the Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies at the Caesars Superdome on January 1, 2024 in New Orleans Louisiana. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

The 2023-24 college football offseason will go down in history as one of the biggest ever due to the combination of coaching changes and conference realignment. 

But while the jury is still out on how the realignment will impact college football in the long-term, one analyst is ready to grade the many head coaching hires now. 

In a feature for On3 Sports, college football analyst Jesse Simonton gave A grades to three of the new coaching hires: Kalen DeBoer at Alabama, Jonathan Smith at Michigan State and Willie Fritz at Houston.

"DeBoer may have been an unconventional replacement for Nick Saban, but he’s rapidly emerged as a Top 5 coach in college football. He’s 104-12 as a head coach, with three NAIA national titles, a nine-win season at Fresno State and a runner-up finish with Washington in 2023. He’s an offensive savant who should do wonders with the talent he should be able to amass in Tuscaloosa. He’s not going to sign No. 1 recruiting classes, but DeBoer isn’t some bum on the trail, either," Simonton wrote on DeBoer.

While he didn't have any D, let alone F grades for teams, he gave C grades to two hires: Oregon State's Trent Bray and UCLA's DeShaun Foster - both of which were internal hires.

"Truly, good luck to Trent Bray. He faces an unprecedented challenge of taking over a program in major limbo as a first-time head coach. Bray is a former Beavers linebacker who cares deeply for Oregon State, but now he’s tasked with being Moses and leading the program into an unknowable future. Again, good luck," Simonton wrote of Bray.

Simonton also gave a C+ grade to the Mississippi State Bulldogs for hiring Jeff Lebby out of Oklahoma.

Time will tell if the hires are truly as good as bad as Simonton or anyone thinks they are. College football is filled to the brim with coaches who exceeded expectations and fell well below them.

Which of the coaches in this ranking do you think will surpass or fall below expectations?


ESPN Getting Torched For Misidentifying NFL Hall Of Famer At College Basketball Game

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INDIANAPOLIS-NOVEMBER 17: Edgerrin James #32 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball during their game against the Dallas Cowboys on November 17, 2002 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the Cowboys 20-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Someone at the ESPN graphics department is going to get an earful from their boss this week as a broadcast of a college basketball game misidentified the NFL Hall of Famer who was in attendance.

During today's game between Cincinnati and UCF, an ESPN graphic highlighted Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James, who was at the game to support his son, Bearcats freshman guard Jizzle James. But there was one problem: They highlighted the wrong person.

Rather than have the cameras pointed at James, who was sitting courtside for the game, the graphic was instead placed over a random person in the crowd who bore no resemblance to the Hall of Fame running back whatsoever.

See for yourself: 

Worse still, ESPN apparently never actually found James in the crowd once during the game.

As you might imagine, fans had all kinds of fun with this gaffe:

"He was at the game. Not sure why they showed this guy haaaa," one user replied.

"Lmao no way these people put this man on tv as Edgerrin James Dad I’m crying," wrote another.

"Was a quick realization as soon as that random guy was shown lol," a third user wrote. 

Meanwhile, Cincinnati Bearcats radio voice Dan Hoard said he had no problem identifying James in the crowd.

"For what it’s worth, the real Edgerrin James was sitting courtside across from the #Bearcats bench. He was not difficult to locate," Hoard wrote.

James was a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the best running backs of the 2000s as a member of the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

At least the Bearcats won the game. James has to be happy about that.

Mattress Mack Places $1 Million Bet On The NCAA Tournament

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HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Jim McIngvale throws out the first pitch prior to Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Mattress Mack is back with one heck of a bet on the NCAA Tournament. 

Jim McIngvale, who goes by Mattress Mack, has put down $1 million on Houston to win it all this year. 

Houston has +750 odds to win it all so if McIngvale wins, he'll be walking away with a boatload of money. 

It's a good bet to make since Houston is the top team in the country right now. The Cougars are 25-3 overall and are fresh off a 67-59 win against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Tuesday. 

The Cougars have three games left in the regular season, including a home against the seventh-ranked Kansas Jayhawks, before they partake in the Big 12 Tournament.

If they're able to finish the regular season strong, plus win the conference title, they'll be on their way to being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. There's also a chance they'd be the top overall seed in March. 

Let's see if Mattress Mack looks smart when the NCAA Tournament gets underway on Mar. 19. It'll run through Apr. 8 when the Final Four and National Championship Game are played in Phoenix. 

Three College Basketball Teams Have 'Separated Completely From Rest Of Pack'

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 16: Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats in the Indy Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 16, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

We're 12 days away from Selection Sunday and the full 68-team bracket in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. But for one college hoops insider, the national title is really just a three-team race. 

Appearing on CBS Sports, analyst Gary Parrish made the case that there are three teams that have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Those three teams are No. 1 Houston, No. 2 UConn and No. 3 Purdue.

Parrish explained that the three teams have identical records, are unbeaten outside of Quadrant I and overall just very good at everything. He believes that all three teams are at "an extremely high level" and that it's hard to tell who's the best between them. 

"We still have stuff to get sorted out between Purdue, UConn and Houston. They're all operating at an extremely high level and they've all separated completely from the rest of the pack," Parrish said.

Houston, UConn and Purdue are all trending towards No. 1 overall seeds. But being a top seed is far from a lock to even make it out of the first two rounds, let alone all the way to the national title game.

Purdue in particular knows this first hand, having been stunned by No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson last year. Houston was the only 1-seed to reach the Sweet 16, and they were promptly bounced by Miami.

So whether the three teams are at the top of the pack or not right now, everything could change once we reach the bottom half of March.

No. 1 Houston Made Unfortunate History In Big 12 Championship Loss

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(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

It was a night to forget for Kelvin Sampson and the No. 1 Houston Cougars in Saturday's Big 12 Championship.

Not only were the Cougs knocked off by Iowa State in the conference title game but the Cyclones held Houston to the fewest points by an AP No. 1 seed in over 40 years.

ISU hammered the Cougars in the second half and ended up rolling to a 69-41 victory.

The Clones held Houston's Jamal Shead to just 10 points on 3-of-17 shooting while also keeping big man J'Wan Roberts quiet for the 13 minutes he played in the first half. For a nine-and-a-half minute stretch, UH was unable to score a single basket

Keshon Gilbert and Milan Momcilovic led the way for Iowa State with 16 and 18 points respectively; carrying over the positive momentum they've been building throughout the tournament.

It's obviously a huge win for T.J. Otzelberger and his program as they make their push for a No. 2 seed for March Madness.

Houston, meanwhile, will likely still be a No. 1 seed with its 30-4 record but it'll definitely be interesting to see if the selection committee chooses to put them in the same region as Iowa State for the postseason drama.

Mattress Mack Has Already Placed $1 Million NCAA Tournament Bet

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HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Jim McIngvale throws out the first pitch prior to Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

One of America's most well-known sports bettors, Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale is ready to make his wager on the NCAA Tournament. But with $1 million on the line, he could pay for a lot of future wagers.

According to Front Office Sports, Mattress Mack is wagering $1 million on the Houston Cougars to win it all and cut down the nets. At 6-1 odds, McIngvale stands to make a solid $6 million if Kelvin Sampson's team gets the job done.

But in case you're worried that Mattress Mack is risking a ton of his own money on this wager, don't be. As FOS explained, Mack is passing the expense onto his Gallery customers with a simple scheme.

The promotion that he runs every year is that when a customer buys $4,000 worth of mattresses , they will get it for free if the team he bets on - in this case, the University of Houston - wins the NCAA Tournament. Once he reaches a minimum of 250 mattresses sold, he places the bet at positive odds to cover his losses.

It's a win-win situation for him. At worst, he's sold hundreds, if over a thousand mattresses while only losing $1 million. At best, he pockets several million in profit.

Over the past few years we've seen this strategy work to his benefit and his detriment. He's made and lost multi-million dollar bets on the Kentucky Derby and NCAA Tournaments in years past. But he also pocked a cool $72.6 million betting on the Houston Astros to win the 2022 World Series.

All things in balance, we suppose.

Report: College Basketball Coach Fired In 'Stunning' Move After Two Seasons

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DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 4: A general view of Moody Coliseum during a game between the SMU Mustangs and Connecticut Huskies on January 4, 2014 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Despite leading SMU to a 20-12 record this season, Rob Lanier has been relieved of his coaching duties. College basketball insider Jeff Goodman was first to report this shocking news. 

"Lanier has been the head coach for 2 seasons, and just won 20 games this past season after improving from 10 wins his first season," Goodman said. "Lost to Indiana State last night in the NIT. I know they are going into the ACC next season, but this is ridiculous. Told the decision came from above AD Rick Hart."

Lanier coached at Georgia State from 2019-2022 before landing the SMU job. In his first season with the Mustangs, he went 10-22. 

SMU showed a lot of growth this year under Lanier's leadership before getting eliminated by Indiana State in the opening round of the NIT. 

It's possible that SMU already knows who it'll target as its next head coach. If so, maybe that's why they were so eager to part ways with Lanier. 

With the NCAA Tournament in full swing, coaches like Dusty May and Will Wade will have plenty of opportunities to improve their stock.

Perhaps SMU will make an enticing offer to someone like Wade in the offseason.

Everyone's Stunned By College Basketball Head Coach Firing Thursday

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 11: SMU Mustangs head coach Rob Lanier calls out a play from the sideline during the college basketball game between the SMU Mustangs and the North Texas Mean Green on February 11, 2024, at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

The NCAA Tournament is understandably earning most of the headlines, but the college basketball coaching carousel has already started.

On Thursday, SMU fired head coach Rob Lanier after two seasons, despite the fact he improved from 10-22 in year one to 20-12 and an NIT berth this season.

"I know they are going into the ACC next season, but this is ridiculous. Told the decision came from above AD Rick Hart," said Field of 68's Jeff Goodman.

Goodman is not the only person raising an eyebrow at SMU's decision. 

"They must think they can get a bigger name heading to the ACC but seems wrong to get rid of someone who had the program going in a positive direction," one person added.

"This makes very, very little sense Unless you have a superstar lined up, but I don’t think that’s the case here," said Heat Check's Brian Rauf.

"Uh, SMU better be ready to drop a bag and make a major hire because otherwise this is incomprehensible," chimed in CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah.

"School fires their 20 game winner coach right before joining a league where the champion just had to beat five teams with national championships this century in five days. Let’s make sure our expectations are properly calibrated," another commenter said.

To be fair, there are other fans in the responses saying the move makes sense if you look under the hood of the program.

One thing is certain though. If you're going to do this, you had better have someone legit lined up.

We'll see if SMU does.






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