Latest news with #AdamRittenberg
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN includes Oklahoma among teams getting impatient
The Oklahoma Sooners have a lot to prove in 2025. After being left out of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll for the first time since 1999, Bob Stoops's first year at the helm, there are plenty of reasons for OU fans to feel a bit uneasy about the future in Norman. The Sooners aren't alone, however, as Adam Rittenberg, who covers college football for ESPN, identified a handful of teams in his "impatience Index" who are looking for an answer to questions in 2025. Oklahoma was grouped into Rittenberg's "return on investment" tier along with the Miami Hurricanes, LSU Tigers, and Texas Tech Red Raiders. He began by outlining OU's storied history as a precursor to why there's impatience among the fanbase, boosters and administrators. Sooner impatience falls into several buckets. The program is one of the sport's historic heavyweights, owning seven national championships and 50 conference crowns, including a stretch of 14 straight from 1946 to 1959 that likely will never be matched. More recently, OU won six consecutive Big 12 championships from 2015 to 2020, reaching the four-team CFP four times during that span. - Adam Rittenberg, ESPN. Venables was regarded as a very good hire by many when he replaced Lincoln Riley in early December of 2021. It was the longtime coordinator's first head coaching gig, but many believed he was the right guy to get the Sooners back to playing complementary football. His championship pedigree and defensive acumen seemed to make him the perfect fit, but there have been plenty of losses in his first three years. However, the brass has stuck with Venables and given him more help heading into 2025. Rittenberg also detailed some of the big moves Oklahoma has made this offseason to ensure Venables has more success this year than he did in 2024. Those moves include the hiring of former Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy as the program's new general manager and building a front office around him. The offensive coordinator-quarterback additions of Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer were brought in to fix an offense that slipped to 97th in the nation in scoring offense last year. Clearly, the Sooners have stepped up to help Venables, but the investments don't end with Nagy, his new front office, Arbuckle, and Mateer. Two 6-7 seasons in three years isn't even sniffing the standard at Oklahoma. Despite another grueling schedule in 2025, Venables needs wins and he needs them now. Otherwise, patience from all sides will run out and the walls will close in on his time as the head coach of the Sooners. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin. This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Can Oklahoma rejoin the College Football elite in 2025?
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN includes Oklahoma among teams getting impatient
The Oklahoma Sooners have a lot to prove in 2025. After being left out of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll for the first time since 1999, Bob Stoops's first year at the helm, there are plenty of reasons for OU fans to feel a bit uneasy about the future in Norman. The Sooners aren't alone, however, as Adam Rittenberg, who covers college football for ESPN, identified a handful of teams in his "impatience Index" who are looking for an answer to questions in 2025. Oklahoma was grouped into Rittenberg's "return on investment" tier along with the Miami Hurricanes, LSU Tigers, and Texas Tech Red Raiders. He began by outlining OU's storied history as a precursor to why there's impatience among the fanbase, boosters and administrators. Sooner impatience falls into several buckets. The program is one of the sport's historic heavyweights, owning seven national championships and 50 conference crowns, including a stretch of 14 straight from 1946 to 1959 that likely will never be matched. More recently, OU won six consecutive Big 12 championships from 2015 to 2020, reaching the four-team CFP four times during that span. - Adam Rittenberg, ESPN. Venables was regarded as a very good hire by many when he replaced Lincoln Riley in early December of 2021. It was the longtime coordinator's first head coaching gig, but many believed he was the right guy to get the Sooners back to playing complementary football. His championship pedigree and defensive acumen seemed to make him the perfect fit, but there have been plenty of losses in his first three years. However, the brass has stuck with Venables and given him more help heading into 2025. Rittenberg also detailed some of the big moves Oklahoma has made this offseason to ensure Venables has more success this year than he did in 2024. Those moves include the hiring of former Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy as the program's new general manager and building a front office around him. The offensive coordinator-quarterback additions of Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer were brought in to fix an offense that slipped to 97th in the nation in scoring offense last year. Clearly, the Sooners have stepped up to help Venables, but the investments don't end with Nagy, his new front office, Arbuckle, and Mateer. Two 6-7 seasons in three years isn't even sniffing the standard at Oklahoma. Despite another grueling schedule in 2025, Venables needs wins and he needs them now. Otherwise, patience from all sides will run out and the walls will close in on his time as the head coach of the Sooners. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN names the Miami Hurricanes as Notre Dame's arch villan for the upcoming 2025 season
There are more than a few teams and players that fall under the category of arch villain for Notre Dame football, but on Thursday ESPN named Miami as the biggest one of the Irish this fall. USC would have made perfect sense, as would Ohio State (who Notre Dame could face for the fourth-straight year if they meet in the College Football Playoff, but is not currently a scheduled opponent), but Adam Rittenberg went with the Hurricanes. The last time these two faced off against each other was in 2017, with a convincing Miami win, 41-8. Advertisement Both teams have CFP hopes this season, and there is some drama surrounding the two. Miami's starting quarterback is now Carson Beck, who was one the sidelines as the Irish defeated his former team, the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP quarterfinals, out with an injury. Rittenberg thinks that he's 'talented enough to villainize a Notre Dame defense replacing standouts Xavier Watts, Jack Kiser, Rylie Mills and others and appearing in its first game under new coordinator Chris Ash.' Rittenberg isn't off his rocker with his assessment, but remember, Beck is coming off an injury, while he's also learning a new offense and working with new skill position players. His play regressed from 2023 to 2024, throwing for less yards, a lower completion percentage and doubled the amount of interceptions thrown. Not exactly awe inspiring progression from Beck. Now, Rittenberg does make another solid point, as head coach Marcus Freeman has a history of September losses, as every one of his three years has seen one happen. Personally, I would have picked USC, as there is always drama on the field, and this year it's off it was well with the Trojans potentially wanting to end its rivalry with the Irish. Both are good choices, and we will see how it all plays out soon. This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: ESPN sees the Miami Hurricanes as Notre Dame's arch villain this fall
USA Today
15-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State ranked highly in ESPN's future college football rankings
Ohio State ranked highly in ESPN's future college football rankings A college football program's success can be measured with the here and now, but to be a true blueblood of the sport, you have to have a pipeline set for future gains as well. Over the years, there haven't been too many programs that compete at the elite level like the Buckeyes, and that doesn't figure to end anytime soon, especially coming off a College Football Playoff national championship. OSU is still recruiting at a high level and has the pieces in place to continue to be one of the very best in the sport, even with all of the changes we've seen, and will continue to see as the sport moves into uncharted territory. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg likes to take a look at the college football landscape and provide an annual health check for where teams might be in the future. It's all changed a bit with the proliferation of transfers, Name, Image and Likeness, and all that we've seen, so he now looks out two years to see which programs might still be at the top when we look back after 2026. The usual suspects are there, like Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Notre Dame, but where does he have Ohio State? To make sense of it all, Rittenberg uses several factors to peer into the college football crystal ball, things like: Returning quarterback Likelihood of a multiyear QB on roster Offensive line/defensive line outlook Roster management Star power (All-Americans, national award contenders, all-conference contenders) Coaching staff Some weigh heavier than others, and some shortcomings can be overcome by a massive strength in other areas. It's an impossible exercise, but we've seen that those on top typically remain near or at the top. So, where does Rittenberg have the Buckeyes? You'll be happy to know that Ohio State is firmly planted at No. 2, behind only the Texas Longhorns in the future rankings. Rittenberg leans into OSU having to replace a lot of key pieces over the next couple of years, but likes the chances of the Buckeyes having a multiple-year, talented starting quarterback, the personnel OSU will have, and Day at the helm. If there's anything holding Ohio State back, it's losing 14 players to the NFL and not really knowing what the roster will look like with all of the changes. Now, any OSU fan doesn't like to not be at the top of any ranking, but sitting at No. 2 through 2026 -- if you believe it -- should put the Buckeyes in position to do more special things. Rounding out the top ten of Rittenberg's top ten behind the Longhorns and Buckeyes are Georgia (3), Oregon (4), Notre Dame (5), Penn State (6), Clemson (7), LSU (8), Tennessee (9), and Alabama (10). In other words, its an SEC/Big Ten party at the top. Now, the games have to be played on the field before any of this comes to fruition, but as always, Ohio State seems to be positioned for future success. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN believes that Notre Dame football will be a top-5 team over the next few seasons
ESPN believes that Notre Dame football will be a top-5 team over the next few seasons We all say that Notre Dame's football future is bright, and on Wednesday ESPN's Adam Rittenberg backed that idea up. When looking ahead to who he believes will be the top teams over the next two seasons, he ranked the Irish as his No. 5 team. It's a slight jump from last year, when Notre Dame was No. 7, for more than a few reasons. Rittenberg went on the explain that while the Irish aren't returning their starting quarterback, they should have a multiple year starts whoever (CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey) wins the job. He believes that the offensive line 'should be one of the nation's most talented groups,' along with the defensive line being loaded with talent despite having to replace more on this side of the ball. He lauds head coach Marcus Freeman's roster management, noting that the transfer additions will help immediately and 'retaining arguably the nation's best running back room and its gifted young offensive linemen.' Rittenberg mentions Notre Dame's star power also, as running back Jeremiyah Love, linebackers Drayk Bowen, cornerback Leonard Moore and safety Adon Shuler should be household names. As far as the coaching staff, Rittenberg has Freeman 'as one of the sport's top young coaches,' but did say that new defensive coordinator Chris Ash has 'big shoes' to fill replacing Al Golden. Put all this together, Notre Dame has one of the brighter immediate futures in college football, as just four others teams are viewed as being potentially better. It's going to a be a great few years of Irish football, starting very soon.
