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Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN releases bowl schedule for 33 games at the end of the 2025 college football season
The 2025 college football bowl season begins on December 13. ESPN released its schedule for the postseason on Thursday as the network will televise 33 bowl games outside of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The only non-playoff bowl games the network doesn't have the rights to are the Holiday Bowl, Sun Bowl and the Arizona Bowl. Advertisement Bowl season will unofficially begin with the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 13, and the first FBS bowl game of the season kicks off at 9 p.m. ET that night with the LA Bowl. The biggest day of bowl season is on Dec. 27. Seven games will be featured on that Saturday along with multiple Week 17 NFL games. There is a game missing from this year's bowl slate, however. ESPN announced that the Bahamas Bowl would not take place at the end of the season and that 'league commitments will fulfilled through other ESPN owned-and-operated games.' The network owns 17 bowl games and the Bahamas Bowl has annually featured teams from Conference USA and the MAC. The entire ESPN FBS bowl schedule is listed below and all times are Eastern. The dates for the College Football Playoff were previously announced in April. Advertisement Saturday, Dec. 13 LA Bowl (9 p.m., ESPN) Tuesday, Dec. 16 IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl (9 p.m. ESPN) Wednesday, Dec. 17 Cure Bowl (5 p.m. ESPN) 68 Ventures Bowl (8:30 p.m., ESPN) Friday, Dec. 19 Myrtle Beach Bowl (Noon, ESPN) Gasparilla Bowl (3:30 p.m., ESPN) Monday, Dec. 22 Potato Bowl (2 p.m., ESPN) Tuesday, Dec. 23 Boca Raton Bowl (2 p.m., ESPN) New Orleans Bowl (5:30 p.m., ESPN) Frisco Bowl (9 p.m., ESPN) Wednesday, Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl (8 or 9 p.m., ESPN) Friday, Dec. 26 GameAbove Sports Bowl (1 p.m., ESPN) Rate Bowl (4:30 p.m., ESPN) First Responder Bowl (8 p.m., ESPN) Saturday, Dec. 27 Military Bowl (11 a.m., ESPN) Advertisement Pinstripe Bowl (Noon, ABC) Fenway Bowl (2:30 p.m., ESPN) Pop-Tarts Bowl (3:30 p.m., ABC) New Mexico Bowl (5:45 p.m., ESPN) Gator Bowl (7:30 p.m., ABC) Texas Bowl (9:15 p.m., ESPN) Monday, Dec. 29 Birmingham Bowl (2 p.m., ESPN) Tuesday, Dec. 30 Independence Bowl (2 p.m., ESPN) Music City Bowl (5:30 p.m., ESPN) Alamo Bowl (9 p.m., ESPN) Wednesday, Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl (Noon, ESPN) Citrus Bowl (3 p.m., ABC) Las Vegas Bowl (3:30 p.m., ESPN) Friday, Jan. 2 Armed Forces Bowl (1 p.m., ESPN) Liberty Bowl (4:30 p.m., ESPN) Duke's Mayo Bowl (8 p.m., ESPN)
Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Purdue Football Preview 2025: Barry Odom's Total Boilermaker Rebuild Begins Now
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFNPurdue Offense BreakdownPurdue Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to SeasonMaking Purdue decent at football again isn't anything compared to what Barry Odom did in Las VegasIn the first 45 seasons of UNLV football at the D-I/FBS level, it enjoyed just three seasons with more than seven wins, and there was just one double-digit win campaign in 1984. Before Odom took over in 2023, the program suffered through eight straight losing won nine games in his first year, and the Rebels won 11 in 2024, for the greatest two-season run in the school's you can win at UNLV, you can win in West Lafayette. Crazy college football fun fact: Purdue has played in more Big Ten Championship games over the last three seasons than Ohio State forgotten was that Purdue lost to Michigan for the 2022 Big Ten title, head coach Jeff Brohm left for Louisville, and things crashed from with that 43-22 loss to the Wolverines, and followed up by a 63-7 loss to LSU in the Citrus Bowl that wasn't even as close as the final score, Purdue has gone 4-20 against FBS teams. Odom knows how to crank up a defense, he hooked up with USC's Josh Henson as the offensive coordinator, and in the mix are over 40 transfers to bring more talent and new goal in the rebuild is to be the midrange team no one wants to play. No one's thinking this will be a Curt Cignetti-to-Indiana thing like last year - the schedule is too tough - but that doesn't mean the Boilermakers can't and won't be a nasty out every after averaging 7.8 points per game over the last six, it all has to start with a far more dynamic … Purdue Offense BreakdownPurdue Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
Miami Herald
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
FCS football likely moving to 12 game schedule
FCS football programs, including many HBCU schools, are one step closer to expanding their regular-season schedule to 12 games starting in 2026. The NCAA FCS Oversight Committee recently approved a key recommendation that would make the 12-game schedule standard every year. What's Changing for FCS Football? Currently, FCS football teams play either 11 or 12 games depending on the calendar. When there are 13 weeks between Labor Day weekend and the FCS playoff selection show - typically aired the Sunday before Thanksgiving - teams are allowed to play 12 games. In years with only 12 weeks, teams play 11. Under the new proposal, FCS programs would shift to a consistent 13-week schedule. The season would begin annually on the final Thursday in August, giving teams the opportunity to play 12 regular-season games every year. Why the Change Matters for HBCU football The committee cited the importance of aligning FCS football with FBS standards. FBS teams have played a consistent 12-game schedule since 2006, regardless of calendar shifts. "Standardizing the start date and number of contests in FCS football enhances the overall experience and provides FCS football student-athletes with the opportunity to participate in the same number of regular-season contests as FBS football student-athletes, regardless of the calendar year," the committee stated in its report. Impact on HBCU Football Programs This change will have a significant impact on HBCU football programs, many of which compete at the FCS level in conferences such as the SWAC and MEAC. These programs often build their schedules around major classics, rivalry games, and revenue-generating matchups against FBS opponents. A guaranteed 12-game schedule every year could offer more flexibility for: Scheduling marquee events like the Bayou Classic, Florida Classic, and Magic City ClassicIncreasing revenue opportunities through additional home games or high-profile matchupsEnhancing exposure and recruiting by ensuring more consistent national and regional visibility This change could also help level the playing field, allowing HBCUs more chances to match the scheduling advantages already enjoyed by FBS and some FCS peers. What Happens Next? The final decision will be made at the upcoming NCAA Division I Council meeting next month. Approval is expected, which would make the 12-game FCS football schedule official starting with the 2026 season. The post FCS football likely moving to 12 game schedule appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
SEC Football Coaches ranked by career winning percentage; who takes the top spot?
SEC Football Coaches ranked by career winning percentage; who takes the top spot? The SEC is home to some of the top brands in college football. Schools like Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, and Tennessee move the needle on the recruiting trail, in the eyes of the networks, or any time there's a coaching vacancy. This offseason, there wasn't any turnover in the SEC. Coaches like Billy Napier, Shane Beamer, and Clark Lea coached themselves off the hot seat. Elsewhere, Brent Venables and Mark Stoops may have felt the temperature turn up on their office chairs. There were varying results among first-year SEC head coaches. Mike Elko and Texas A&M were pretty good, while Jeff Lebby has a far tougher task in revitalizing Mississippi State. Ahead of the 2025 season, here's how the SEC coaches rank in winning percentage. Only records from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) were considered. For example, Kalen DeBoer's time at Sioux Falls wasn't considered. 1. Mike Elko, Texas A&M Career FBS Record: 24-14 FBS Win Percentage: 85.7% Bowl Record: 1-1 A strong season for Mike Elko in year one despite some quarterback turmoil. The defense looks ready to contend. Just need more consistency on offense. 2. Kirby Smart, Georgia Career FBS Record: 105-19 FBS Win Percentage: 84.6% Bowl Record: 9-3 Kirby Smart might not have played for a national championship each of the last two seasons, but Georgia is coming off of another SEC title and will be one of the favorites to contend for the national title once again. With Saban out of the picture, Smart is the top Dawg in college football. 3. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Career FBS Record: 46-13 FBS Win Percentage: 77.9% Bowl Record: 2-2 Kalen DeBoer has had a lot of success everywhere he's been. Year one in Tuscaloosa was a disappointment, though, with losses to Vanderbilt and a not-so-good Oklahoma team. Though he's turning over the quarterback position, he won't be able to satisfy the Alabama faithful unless he gets the Tide into the playoff. 4. Josh Heupel Career FBS Record: 65-23 FBS Win Percentage: 73.8% Bowl Record: 3-4 Josh Heupel made quite the statement this offseason with Tennessee's stance on the Nico Iamaleava situation. That came after a 10-win season and a College Football Playoff berth. Last year, the Vols beat Oklahoma in Norman and upset Alabama at home. Heupel is one of the better coaches in college football. 5. Brian Kelly, LSU Career FBS Record: 195-73 FBS Win Percentage: 72.7% Bowl Record: 10-6 2024 was the first time Brian Kelly didn't win 10 games since a 4-8 season in 2016. He's only ever had two losing seasons in 21 years as a college head coach. He's a really good coach, but hasn't been able to win enough big games to win the national title. Could 2025 be the year? 6. Lane Kiffin Career FBS Record: 106-52 FBS Win Percentage: 67% Bowl Record: 5-4 Lane Kiffin is one of the most experienced head coaches in college football and has established himself as one of the better coaches in the game, especially on the recruiting front. His work in the transfer portal earned Kiffin the nickname "Portal King," but that wasn't enough to get Ole Miss to the playoff in 2024. 7. Eli Drinkwitz Career FBS Record: 50-25 FBS Win Percentage: 66.7% Bowl Record: 2-2 A four-point loss to South Carolina likely kept Eli Drinkwitz and the Missouri Tigers out of the playoff. The Tigers have a manageable schedule in 2025 but need quarterback Drew Pribula to be the real deal. 8. Billy Napier, Florida Career FBS Record: 59-31 FBS Win Percentage: 65.5% Bowl Record: 3-2 After a pair of seven-loss seasons, Billy Napier finally earned his first winning season at Florida. With D.J. Lagway leading the offense, Napier and the Gators have a tough schedule to navigate to try and make the playoff. 9. Hugh Freeze, Auburn Career FBS Record: 94-57 FBS Win Percentage: 62.2% Bowl Record: 6-3 Hugh Freeze hasn't had a winning season in two years at Auburn, but he's hoping 2025 will be the year with a new quarterback in Jackson Arnold. 10. Steve Sarkisian, Texas Career Record: 84-52 FBS Win Percentage: 61.7% Bowl Record: 4-5 He doesn't have a high winning percentage, but back-to-back playoff appearances have earned Steve Sarkisian a lot of love from the rankers. On offense, this will be his biggest coaching challenge with how much they're turning over on offense, but it's time for the Arch Manning experience. 11. Shane Beamer, South Carolina Career FBS Record: 29-22 FBS Win Percentage: 56.8% Bowl Record: 1-2 Shane Beamer and the South Carolina Gamecocks were just a few plays away from making the College Football Playoff. LaNorris Sellers and a strong defense give the Gamecocks a chance to be contenders in 2025. 12. Brent Venables, Oklahoma Career Record: 22-17 FBS Win Percentage: 56.4% Bowl Record: 0-3 It's a huge season for Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners after another 6-7 season. But despite the results from last year, there's a lot of optimism about what OU could be in 2025. 13. Mark Stoops, Kentucky Career FBS Record: 77-73 FBS Win Percentage: 51.3% Bowl Record: 4-4 The Brock Vandergriff experiment didn't work out for Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats, and he's hoping for better success with Zach Calzada, who's on his third SEC team after spending a year at Incarnate Word. 14. Sam Pittman, Arkansas Career FBS Record: 30-31 FBS Win Percentage: 49.1% Bowl Record: 3-0 Sam Pittman earned a reprieve from the hot seat after an improved 2024 where they beat Tennessee. Getting Taylen Green out of the transfer portal was huge for Pittman and his future with the Razorbacks. 15. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt Career FBS Record: 16-33 FBS Win Percentage: 32.6% Bowl Record: 1-0 It was a big year for Vanderbilt, earning wins over Alabama and Virginia Tech and gaining bowl eligibility. Diego Pavia gave Clark Lea and the Commodores a huge boost. 16. Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State Career FBS Record: 2-10 FBS Win Percentage: 16.7% Bowl Record: NA If they give Jeff Lebby time in Starkville, he'll be able to get the Mississippi State offense going. He'll have to hit regularly in the transfer portal to turn things around quickly. Lebby ranked last among Power Five coaches. 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 John on X @john9williams.
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
The SEC and Big Ten demanded the power to shape the CFP's future. Now they can't agree
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey often talks about the challenges of solving problems in large rooms of people, balancing many voices, viewpoints and priorities, as the root of college sports' myriad issues. It's a fair point, and those rooms have shrunk in recent years in the hopes of finding better solutions more efficiently. The current College Football Playoff negotiations are a chance to prove Sankey's theory correct. Advertisement Yes, the other FBS conferences contractually have the right to provide 'meaningful input,' but the room where the next CFP format will be decided needs only two chairs — one for Sankey and one for his Big Ten counterpart, Tony Petitti. The SEC and Big Ten were tired of operating in a structure that required consensus from all 11 CFP stakeholders. The new contract that kicks in next year gives the SEC and the Big Ten the power to do what they think is best. Yet, still, the CFP talks have hit a bump, stemming directly from the SEC's interminable internal debate over whether to continue to play eight conference games or move to nine, which would match the number played by the Big Ten. After the SEC spent last week making headlines and pounding its chest at its annual spring meetings, decision-makers in the Big Ten were left wondering whether the two leagues can agree on a model for determining college football's champion. 'We thought we were on the same page. What was that?' one incredulous Big Ten athletic director, granted anonymity to candidly address the state of discussions, told The Athletic late last week. The Big Ten's preference is clear and has been for a while: The CFP field should be primarily made up of automatic qualifiers (AQs) determined by conference standings and play-in games. Whether that field includes 14 teams or 16 — the new front-runner — doesn't seem to matter that much. Administrators in Big Ten country believed the SEC was on board. Twice in the last nine months, Big Ten and SEC leaders held joint meetings. Sankey and Petitti, by all accounts, have a good relationship. They're supposed to be 'on the same page,' leading college sports from their perches atop it. Not so fast. SEC athletic directors and coaches left Destin, Fla., intrigued with a different plan. Instead of AQs, what if five conference champions and 11 at-large selections populated a 16-team bracket? The plan was developed by the Big 12 as a way to appeal to the SEC's ego. Advertisement '(SEC coaches) talked about — I'll call it a 5-11 model — and our own ability to earn those berths,' Sankey said last week during one of four briefings with reporters. 'The question is, why wouldn't that be fine? Why wouldn't we do that?' 'I kinda like the 5-11 model, if we can fix the selection process,' an SEC athletic director said as the meetings wound down. It is important to stress that everything being debated about the size and scope of the CFP can be summed up thusly: The Big Ten and SEC do not trust the selection committee process. It's nothing personal. Many current athletic directors in both conferences have served on the 13-member committee. Michigan AD Warde Manuel was its chair last year for the first 12-team Playoff. But just one season's worth of 12-team data was enough to convince many that the committee did not properly account for the varying degrees of difficulty college football teams face within their schedules. 'The strength of our conference and how that's evaluated is really something we want to be a priority. I think that's important for us,' Sankey said last Thursday as the SEC closed its meetings by distributing six pages of charts, graphs and metrics detailing its awesomeness. 'The extent we can have clarity, maybe that can keep us advancing. Maybe if we lack clarity, maybe that causes us to take a step back in our decision-making.' Make no mistake, the Big Ten has similar concerns. Petitti would like to turn the selection committee into a seeding committee and use a model that guarantees his league and the SEC four CFP bids each. But the SEC's public proclamation of its power was a bit much for the Big Ten, which chooses to work in silence and cede the floor to its rival at this time of year. Still, if the SEC wants to consider a CFP model dominated by at-large selections, Big Ten leaders appear open-minded. On one condition: Time to play nine conference games, SEC. Advertisement And there's the rub. An AQ-centric CFP model provides the protection that SEC athletic directors feel would make it worthwhile to add another potentially difficult game to their already rigorous schedules. With a CFP field made up of mostly at-large bids, sprinkling nine extra losses across the conference becomes less appealing, especially after the selection committee seemed overly focused, according to the SEC, on the number of losses when ranking teams last year. To which folks in the Big Ten respond: Yes, welcome to our world. The Big Ten has been playing a nine-game conference schedule for nine years. If the SEC wants to talk 5-11 with the Big Ten, the conversation needs to start with a commitment to playing nine conference games. That seems to be a reasonable request. Then the two leagues can tackle the selection process and come up with metrics and protocols to guide committee members and make their choices less subjective. That's not an easy task, but let's be real: A 16-team field last year would have included six SEC teams, along with the four Big Ten teams that made it into the 12-teamer. Expanding the bracket alone should regularly get those conferences more than enough bids. Without multiple AQs, Petitti's vision of a reimagined championship weekend with high-stakes play-in games takes a serious hit. But taking them off the table doesn't have to bring negotiations back to square one. The Big Ten might be disappointed to backtrack from AQs, but implementing a 16-team model with a restructured selection process seems better than sticking with the status quo, which two Big Ten ADs suggested would be the fallback if the SEC and Big Ten can't agree on a new format. Even Sankey acknowledged that is a possible — however unlikely — scenario. The AQ debate has not been particularly well received by those outside the footprint of those two conferences, including general college football fans. The SEC and Sankey have publicly positioned themselves as potential saviors, pulling Petitti and the Big Ten away from an unpopular idea. Advertisement Now the Big Ten can turn it back on the SEC. Just play nine conference games, guys. The next meeting of the full 11-member CFP management committee is scheduled for mid-June. The Power 4 commissioners speak routinely among themselves and held their latest call earlier this week, with rethinking the selection process at the heart of the conversation. They all can stake a claim to feeling, at times, that it hasn't worked in their favor. See: unbeaten Florida State in 2023 when the ACC got left out. More importantly, though, Sankey and Petitti need to connect and sort out where things stand with their constituents. Both seem to understand that after emphasizing the need for their leagues to have more power, autonomy and alignment, failing to agree on the one item they truly can control would be, frankly, a little embarrassing. The room is all yours, gentlemen. Time to figure it out.
