NIL holdout turning into QB trade, plus what's ‘GameDay' without Corso?
Until Saturday Newsletter 🏈 | This is The Athletic's college football newsletter. Sign up here to receive Until Saturday directly in your inbox.
Today in college football news, this past weekend's WrestleMania gets a C+.
Remember a couple weeks ago, when it looked like this April portal window would be a chill one? Anyway, a couple Big Ten and SEC teams are in the process trading quarterbacks. Unofficially trading, but still.
Days after Tennessee's one-time College Football Playoff starter Nico Iamaleava left for UCLA via an NIL caper gone awry, former potential UCLA starter Joey Aguilar is likely headed to the Vols. It gets even more involved:
I guess this is our makeshift version of the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams swapping quarterbacks a few years ago. That worked out for everybody.
Two other consequential pieces of QB news from this transfer window, which closes later this week: Bill Belichick's North Carolina added South Alabama's Gio Lopez, who has a shot to win the job, and Notre Dame's Steve Angeli is transferring out, meaning the Irish will have a first-time starter this season.
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🌀 More portal:
📋 Whenever someone asks you what this whole college sports general manager thing is all about, just send them this decades-encompassing history by Sam Khan Jr.
😬 Lane Kiffin on former Georgia QB Carson Beck reportedly making $4 million at Miami: 'Did they watch his game against us?' (Kiffin's Rebels beat Georgia 28-10, but again fell short of the CFP.)
🍀 UNC and TCU will open the 2026 season in Ireland. Will Belichick be there?
💰 Yesterday, the Division I Board of Directors cleared the way for schools to begin directly paying players, pending House settlement approval. One step closer.
🏆 The current state of the CFP's evolution, with more haggling going on this week.
🦬 This week in Colorado drama: Deion Sanders addressed the debate over the Buffs having already retired Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders' jersey numbers. 'The only reason we are having this discussion is because his last name is Sanders,' said the coach in defense of the decision. Technically true, one way or the other. To be fair, the QB set a ton of school records.
⏰ It's NFL Draft week. If you want to catch up on the whole thing with one click, Nick Baumgardner's got you. More on this Thursday. We'll find college angles.
These days, I'm not sure how much 'College GameDay' you actively watch. For the past few years, I haven't paid as much attention to it as I used to, though it's always on in the background each football Saturday morning. Mostly, my ears clock in whenever Nick Saban says, 'A'ight,' which means he's fully activated his explanation mode.
Last week's news that the upcoming season-debut edition of the Saturday institution will be Lee Corso's swan song made me realize a few things.
On Aug. 30, I'm probably gonna wipe a tear or two while watching a 90-year-old man adorn himself with a gigantic animal hat. And then a week later, there's a chance I just tune out for good. 'GameDay' would be fine without me, but I'm guessing I wouldn't be the only one parting ways.
Real quick: Last Thursday, we talked about the college football community that spent its week raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for a refugee resettlement charity. Final tally: $1,370,251.
Have a good Tuesday. Holler at me via untilsaturday@theathletic.com with any thoughts.
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