Expect another 'well-rounded' Notre Dame team
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USA Today
37 minutes ago
- USA Today
Is Notre Dame football closing in on its quarterback decision? One pundit thinks so
The start of the season is getting closer, as Notre Dame is just over two weeks away from going on the road for a season-opening top-10 US LBM Coaches Poll matchup against the Miami Hurricanes. There are multiple starting spots that have yet to be announced, but the biggest one that we are all watching is who will be the starting quarterback: CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey. The is one insider that believes the choice could be made soon: On3's Tyler Horka. On Friday morning he posted a clip of both of them taking reps and said this weekend 'might be the one of the biggest of the year for Notre Dame' as they could be close to named its starting quarterback. All the current rumors have been that head coach Marcus Freeman, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli are leaning towards Minchey, but obviously no decision has been made. The Irish could wait another week to let it play out, or they could end the drama and announce the starter and get ready to prep for Miami. If they are pretty much even at this point, it makes more sense to continue the battle and give them time for the guy to emerge. It's going to be a tough choice, but one that will have to eventually be made for Notre Dame. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen
NBC Sports
38 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Boise State again favored to win Mountain West as conference prepares for major changes
Change is coming to the Mountain West, but this season will feel like so many others. No. 25 Boise State was picked to win the conference. For the 15th year in a row. Broncos coach Spencer Danielson pointed out that didn't equate to a conference title every time, but Boise State is the two-time defending champion. The program lost Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty and still received 35 of 39 first-place votes from the media. 'That's just the culture that we have,' said left tackle Kage Casey, a potential first-round pick in next year's NFL draft. 'Everyone in the conference knows that we're putting in the work to be the best, and that's what we're going to show game by game, day by day.' Boise State and four other schools — Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State — will be playing their final season in the Mountain West. Those five will depart for the Pac-12 Conference in what has been a contentious divorce that saw UNLV turn down overtures from the Pac-12 to remain in the Mountain West. The Rebels made the championship game the past two seasons before falling short against Boise State, and they were picked to finish second again this year. With first-year coach Dan Mullen, who previously coached Florida and Mississippi State, there is great optimism at UNLV of taking the next step and perhaps qualifying for the College Football Playoff. Junior safety Jake Pope was recruited by Mullen coming out of high school in 2022, but chose Alabama over the Gators. He transferred to Georgia two years later and then to UNLV. 'A really, really great players' coach,' Pope said. 'He's always down to listen to what we have, positive and negative. ... It's pretty cool to be back here with him.' Moving on from Jeanty Jeanty had a season for the ages last year, leading the nation with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing. He fell just 27 yards short of Barry Sanders' NCAA record. It might take a committee to come close to making up such production. Redshirt freshman Sire Gaines is back after missing nearly all of last season with an injury; in last year's opener against Georgia Southern, he rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Malik Sherrod is a sixth-year transfer from Fresno State who also had his season ended prematurely by injury, but in 2023 he rushed for 966 yards and nine TDs. Whether the Broncos can make up the difference remains to be seen. 'Ashton is one of the top leaders I've ever been around in all my years coaching,' Danielson said. 'He had that innate sense that could grab a kid, have a one-on-one conversation. Could speak to the entire room. Would also lead by example.' Taking the next step Boise State appeared in the playoff last season for the first time. The Broncos, who received a first-round bye, were demolished by Penn State 31-14 in the quarterfinals. 'We went to the playoffs, but we lost,' Casey said. 'That's the thing that I always think about. We were the fourth team to go to the Fiesta Bowl; we were the first Boise State team to fall short. That is deep in our hearts and deep in our thoughts, that we are not going to let that be our legacy. We want to build off of something no Boise State team has ever done. We want to go on a run.' SEC West at UNLV? Mullen isn't the only one who gives UNLV a Southeastern Conference feel as he replaces Barry Odom, who parlayed back-to-back Mountain West title game appearances into the Purdue job. In addition to Pope, other new Rebels include cornerbacks Denver Harris (previously LSU and Texas A&M) and Laterrance Welch (LSU). Drawing players from one of the country's most dominant conference probably isn't the worst strategy. 'The more guys in the program that knows what it takes in an SEC program to win, it's going to translate over to here,' Pope said. Spartans on the rise San Jose State, like UNLV, for many years was at or near the bottom of the Mountain West until recently. The Spartans posted four seven-win seasons in the past five years under two coaches. Brent Brennan built the program before leaving for Arizona after the 2023 season. Ken Niumatalolo — who went 109-83 over 16 years at Navy — took over and guided San Jose State to a 7-6 record last season. San Jose State was picked third in the Mountain West. 'I think we're way more mature,' Niumatalolo said. 'I felt a little chaotic at this time last year implementing our culture, implementing what we do. I feel like that stuff's already in place.'
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
2025 Conference USA betting odds, preview, picks: Why UTEP is a CFP sleeper
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Everything pointed to a runaway season for Liberty in 2024. The Flames were coming off a 13-1 campaign, they had Kaidon Salter returning after a monster year under center and head coach Jamey Chadwell was entering his second year. Liberty was a clear favorite to win Conference USA and there was a lot of buzz about the Flames representing the Group of 5 in the College Football Playoff. Not so fast. Liberty finished 8-4 overall, and just 5-3 in C-USA. It was a reminder to assume nothing in this sport, especially in the Group of 5. 2025 Conference USA odds Team Odds Liberty +120 Western Kentucky +350 Louisiana Tech +800 Jacksonville State +850 Sam Houston State 10/1 FIU 14/1 UTEP 14/1 Middle Tennessee 18/1 New Mexico State 25/1 Kennesaw State 33/1 Odds via bet365 (Delaware and Missouri State are ineligible to win the conference). The Favorite Despite their down year and the transfer of Salter to Colorado, Liberty is once again the runaway favorite in Conference USA, perhaps the weakest in the Group of 5. It may seem odd to install the Flames as such a short favorite, but the reality is that this program can outspend the rest of the teams in the conference by a wide margin. The Flames may be breaking in a new quarterback — Ethan Vasko, a transfer from Coastal Carolina, is the projected starter — but he will have plenty of experience in front of — and around — him. Liberty Flames head coach Jamey Chadwell. Getty Images It's also likely that Vasko and the offense won't be asked to be prolific because Liberty's defense projects to be one of the best in the Group of 5. With a terrific coach, plenty of money and a lot of talent and experience throughout the roster, Liberty remains a step above the rest of C-USA. We could have said the same thing last year, though. Dark horses Western Kentucky is the second favorite behind Liberty, and that seems a bit crazy considering the amount of turnover in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers saw 80 total transfers (in and out) take place over the offseason, and they'll have new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Tyson Helton has been steady as she goes for WKU, but he'll need to work some serious magic for this team to win eight-plus games for the fifth year running. There will also be upheaval at Jacksonville State (Rich Rodriguez has departed for West Virginia) and Sam Houston State (K.C. Keeler left for Temple, and defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity took a bunch of his players to North Texas), making them unappealing at their short prices to provide a challenge for Liberty. The case for Louisiana Tech is that there's not much of a difference between the Bulldogs and the teams priced above them, but it's been pretty dire under Sonny Cumbie, and the odds are not enticing enough to bet on a turnaround just because the rest of the conference is wanting. Long shots The path to success for the also-rans in C-USA is that the rest of the conference won't put up that much resistance. That's the starting point, at least. For a team like Middle Tennessee State, it may be enough if Derek Mason gets things moving in Year 2. But considering how things went in his first year in Murfreesboro, it's more of a hope than a sound bet. Middle Tennessee State coach Derek Mason. Getty Images Then there's FIU, which is just hoping Willie Simmons can lead them out of no man's land in his debut season with the Panthers. Kennesaw State returns plenty of its roster, but that may not be a good thing considering how it played in 2024. There is one team, however, that does stand out as a good bet in this range. Betting on College Football? Best bet to win Conference USA UTEP to win Conference USA (14/1, bet365) | UTEP to make the CFB Playoff (300/1, DraftKings) We'll start with UTEP, who profile as a potential bounce-back candidate after a poor but also quite unlucky 3-9 campaign in Scotty Walden's first year in El Paso. Walden tried to accelerate the turnaround by getting aggressive in the transfer portal, notably adding former five-star recruit and USC quarterback Malachi Nelson to his ranks. Nelson immediately becomes one of the most interesting players in the Group of 5. His ceiling is as high as anybody's at this level, but he's not come close to hitting it while at USC and Boise State. If Nelson can click with his new offensive coordinator Mark Cala, the Miners could turn this conference on its head. I think the Miners are absolutely worth a bet to win C-USA at 14/1 odds, and I'd also consider a very small sprinkle on them to make the Playoff at 300/1. Picks up! Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
