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Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Las Vegas HBCU Classic to air on Black-owned broadcast network
HBCU football is headed to the Las Vegas Strip. This fall, the inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic will mark a major milestone -not just in location, but in legacy. Set inside the glistening confines of Allegiant Stadium, the state-of-the-art home of the Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL. The game will feature a marquee matchup between two titans of Black college football: Jackson State and Grambling State. But the spotlight won't only be on the field. In a move that marries authenticity with innovation. Allen Media Group's HBCUGo will be the broadcast and streaming partner of the marquee Classic. The partnership isn't just about airing a game. It's about aligning a historic moment with a historic mission. A new high-profile classic backed by a Black-owned broadcast network starts a bold new chapter in the broadcast history of HBCU football. With Byron Allen's Allen Media Group launching HBCUGo in 2022 as a free, ad-supported streaming platform dedicated exclusively to HBCU sports and culture, the network has quietly become a go-to hub for fans who want more than just box scores. They want the band, the pageantry, the legacy-and HBCUGo delivers all of it. At the heart of the game is one of Black college football's most iconic rivalries. Jackson State vs. Grambling has been a staple of HBCU gridiron greatness for decades. Think Eddie Robinson vs. W.C. Gorden. Think Deion Sanders bringing his primetime flair to the SWAC. Think NFL-bound talent clashing in front of packed stadiums and battle-tested bands. Now, that rich history takes center stage in one of the most high-tech venues in the world, placing HBCU tradition on a stage that matches its magnitude. Juxtaposing the timeless spirit of these two programs with the ultra-modern aesthetics of Allegiant Stadium is symbolic. HBCUs are no longer relegated to the margins of college sports. They're thriving, innovating, and now-streaming globally with Black ownership at the wheel. As the network continues to grow its slate of games, pregame coverage, and cultural content, the Las Vegas HBCU Classic serves as a defining moment for the surging network. One that says: Black-owned HBCU sports media isn't coming-it's here. The post Las Vegas HBCU Classic to air on Black-owned broadcast network appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
News, notes, thoughts, fallout from UM's post-spring portal cycle. And announcement coming
University of Miami News, notes, thoughts, fallout from UM's post-spring portal cycle. And announcement coming A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes as the football transfer portal activity begins to slow (players can still be signed, but nobody new can enter the portal): ▪ Unlike last spring, the Canes did not land every portal player that visited campus in April and early May. Miami, in particular, would have loved to acquire All-Big 12 safety AJ Haulcy (who picked LSU despite being wined and dined by the Canes) and defensive tackle Braxton Feely, who opted to stay at Boise State. Since spring ended, the Canes did not add an elite starting safety, a veteran defensive tackle or a clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver (Syracuse slot player Trebor Pena, who was arguably the best receiver in the portal, visited Miami but opted for Penn State). It would have made a very good offseason an extraordinary one if a second top safety (besides Zechariah Poyser) or No. 1 receiver had been added. But in UM's defense, second portal cycle options at those positions were very limited; the Canes landed a pretty good safety in Jakoby Thomas and two solid receivers in Keelan Marion and Tony Johnson. And overall, this group of seven post-spring additions is a very good one, filling needs at receiver, linebacker, kicker and the defensive backfield. ranks UM among eight winners in the post-spring portal cycle after adding receivers Marion (BYU) and Johnson (Cincinnati), North Carolina State linebacker Kamal Bonner, Tennessee safety Thomas, Houston cornerback/safety Keionte Scott, North Dakota State running back CharMar Brown and kicker Bert Auburn. Auburn gives the Canes a generally reliable kicker who was very good in 2023 and not quite as good last year, but still the best possible option to replace NFL-bound Andres Borregales. Marion and Scott give UM accomplished returners who once led their conferences in kickoff and punt return averages, respectively. Here's how assessed UM's portal efforts: 'Similar to a year ago with Cam Ward, Miami focused much of its winter portal efforts on a quarterback. The Hurricanes pulled off a stunner in January, landing Carson Beck, who passed on the NFL draft for the portal. Miami has worked this spring on surrounding Beck with talent, bringing in two new wide receivers in Marion and Johnson. Marion was a second-team All-Big 12 pick as a kick returner after taking back 18 kicks for 472 yards and two touchdowns last season, too. 'Miami was also able to land Brown, who appeared set to land at Cal until the Hurricanes made a final-hour move to land the Jerry Rice Award winner. The North Dakota State running back closed out 2024 with 1,183 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Reshaping the secondary was a priority for new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.' If you include the prespring portal additions, this transfer class deserves an A or A-, on paper. That group includes Beck, ex-LSU receiver CJ Daniels, ex-Tulane tight end Alex Bauman; UAB tight end Jack Nickel; center James Brockermeyer; Louisiana Tech defensive tackle David Blay; cornerbacks Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin) and Ethan O'Connor (Washington State) and Charles Brantley (Michigan State); cornerback Emmanuel Karnley (the Arizona transfer then left UM in April); former Jacksonville State safety Poyser; ex-Charlotte long snapper Adam Booker and erstwhile FAU kicker Carter Davis. Finding an accomplished starting quarterback and several good defensive backs in the portal - plus a starting center and starting defensive lineman — makes this a successful Canes offseason by any measure. ▪ Because there simply wasn't an elite No. 1 boundary receiver in the portal, there's as much uncertainty about who will earn a top-four receiver spots as any offseason I can remember. Jojo Trader, who was injured late in spring practice, is a likely starter if he's healthy. Daniels (LSU's No. 4 receiver) and Marion (24 catches, 346 yards, TD last season have a legitimate chance to win the other boundary job, with Ny Carr, Joshua Moore and Dylan Upshaw competing. Johnson (48 receptions), 449 yards and six TDs last season is the front-runner in the slot, but explosive freshman Malachi Toney needs to play — inside or outside — and Ray Ray Joseph had a solid spring. ▪ UM's inability to find a veteran tackle from a weak crop of postspring portal options (Blay stayed at Boise; UCF's Bernard Gooden picked LSU) creates a big opportunity for freshman Donta Simpson and Daylen Russell to earn snaps as a No. 4 tackle. Probably the more likely scenario is one of the top ends (Rueben Bain Jr., Akheem Mesidor, Armondo Blount) moving inside on passing downs and UM giving more edge snaps to Blount or Malik Bryant or to young players Hayden Lowe, Marquise Lightfoot, Booker Pickett or Cole McConathy. ▪ Bonner, who was productive in seven starts for North Carolina State, becomes the front-runner to start opposite Wesley Bissainthe, but I wouldn't discount Raul Aguirre or Jaylin Alderman. Alderman was a productive starter for Louisville in 2023 and Aguirre repeatedly flashes. Chase Smith and Bobby Pruitt could become factors. UM also is awaiting a decision from Rutgers linebacker Mohamed Toure, who was exceptional in 2023 (94 tackles, 9.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks) but missed 2022 and 2024 with separate ACL tears. North Carolina, Penn State and Indiana also have been pursuing Toure. ▪ Beyond Feely and Pena, UM's other spring portal visitors who ended up elsewhere were defensive backs — Haulcy, UF's Gregory Smith (picked North Carolina), Colorado cornerback Colton Hood (chose Tennessee), UCF cornerback Brent Austin (chose Cal), Kansas State's Noah King (picked Colorado). Though Haulcy was a priority, some of the others weren't high priorities after UM made inroads with Thomas and Scott. Thomas will battle Markeith Williams and Dylan Day to start opposite Poyser. Scott, who was a productive slot corner for Auburn two years ago, will compete with Damari Brown and Brantley for snaps in nickel packages. He can also play safety and boundary cornerback, but is best in the slot. ▪ Offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 prep prospect in the 2026 class, is expected to pick his school on Tuesday, and Miami, Georgia and Oregon are the top contenders. The 6-7, 300-pound Cantwell, who attends high school in Nixa, Missouri, visited UM in the spring and will visit Georgia on Saturday.
Miami Herald
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Hurricanes lose a kicker and a corner to the transfer portal. One just arrived months ago
Cornerback Emmanuel Karnley arrived at Miami just four months ago after transferring from Arizona. He apparently isn't going to stay beyond that. Per Karnley is re-entering the transfer portal after failing to grab hold of a starting job during Hurricanes spring football. Also departing: kicker Abram Murray, who was beaten out (for now) by FAU transfer Carter Davis. UM added four cornerbacks in the transfer portal: Wisconsin's Xavier Lucas, Washington State's Ethan O'Connor, Michigan State's Charles Brantley and Karnley. By all accounts, Lucas was the best of the group and is a heavy favorite to start alongside OJ Frederique, who was limited by an injury in the spring. O'Connor and Damari Brown are in line for top boundary backup jobs, while Brantley and Brown are expected to compete for the top slot job in nickel coverage. Karnley played only 369 defensive snaps for Arizona last season and permitted 22 receptions in 43 targets for 288 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions, which equals a 103.6 passer rating in his coverage area. He had 16 tackles in 2024 after redshirting in 2023. Karnley, who played high school football in Walnut Creek, California, was rated by 247 Sports as a three-star prospect and the 98th-best cornerback in the 2023 class. Players changing schools multiple times in an offseason is no longer uncommon. Last year, former Vanderbilt safety Savion Riley joined UM before spring practice, left for Colorado after spring practice and this week announced he's joining Georgia Tech. Defensive end Tyler Barron joined UM last offseason after briefly being committed to two other schools. As for the kicking job, Murray struggled this spring and leaves a year after joining UM as the No. 4-rated kicker in the country. That leaves Davis as the front-runner to replace NFL-bound Andres Borregales. Davis was just 4 for 11 on field goals at FAU but made two 50-plus yard field goals, was perfect on extra points (23 for 23) and has a high touchback rate on kickoffs; 46 of his 61 kickoffs weren't returned last season. Here's my Monday piece on Canes portal targets and visits lined up and Lane Kiffin trolling Carson Beck.
USA Today
11-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame quarterback competitions summed up in two words
Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame quarterback competitions summed up in two words Show Caption Hide Caption Kalen DeBoer shares Alabama football QB battle update post scrimmage Here's what the Alabama football head coach said about the Crimson Tide's quarterback battle. From Alabama to Georgia to Notre Dame to defending champion Ohio State, some top teams have unnamed starting quarterbacks. Don't expect any naming to happen anytime soon. Spring transfer portal opens later this month. That free agency period encourages coaches to keep mum as the word on quarterback competitions. Kirby Smart's track record offers insight to Georgia's quarterback situation. 'Tis the season for 'open competition.' Those two words are on the tip of every college football coach's tongue, while they scramble for new ways to make it sound as if the backup quarterback nips at the heels of the heir apparent. From Alabama to Georgia to Notre Dame to defending champion Ohio State, top programs have unnamed starting quarterbacks. Don't expect any naming to occur anytime soon. Never mind that each of those teams will play a spring game Saturday. That date matters less than what happens four days later: The transfer portal opens for the 10-day spring sweepstakes. Transfer portal guides rhetoric on quarterback competitions Roster management tops a coach's checklist this time of year. Nobody wants his backup quarterback getting sucked into portal's vacuum, less than four months before the season kicks off. So, coaches draw out competitions as long as possible – if not on the practice field, than at least with their rhetoric. At some schools, there's no hiding reality. You'd be laughed off for trying. So, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian formalized the anointing of Arch Manning as the team's starter in February. In other breaking news, rainfall made the ground wet. At Alabama, though, where the Crimson Tide must replace NFL-bound Jalen Milroe? It's a three-deep competition! So indicates Kalen DeBoer's rhetoric, anyway, about veteran Ty Simpson, freshman Keelon Russell and transfer Austin Mack, a former Washington backup who followed DeBoer to Tuscaloosa last year. 'They are all three making some throws, making some big-time throws,' DeBoer said last week. SCHEDULE DEBATE: Will SEC football play nine conference games? Playoff equation will have a say Sounds just like Notre Dame, where coach Marcus Freeman said each quarterback in his three-headed competition between Steve Angeli, CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey is "amazing" and "great." Freeman didn't bother pretending he'd announce a decision soon. "I don't know when it's going to be (decided)," Freeman said. I don't either, but I know it will be after the portal closes. How's the poker face going for Kirby Smart? Well, he described Georgia's quarterback competition between Gunner Stockton and Ryan Puglisi thusly: 'I think both those guys are doing a great job,' Smart said. Illuminating. Now, remember that when Georgia needed a fresh starter in the College Football Playoff after Carson Beck's injury, Smart elevated Stockton for the job. Puglisi's next collegiate pass will be his first. Smart tends to favor experience when making quarterback selections. If that history predicts this competition's outcome, that's good news for Stockton. Highly tuned ears might have picked up on this comment about Stockton from the Georgia coach. "He knows the inside and out," Smart said, in praise of Stockton, "and then I get frustrated and impatient when other guys don't know it like him." Smart's quote was not specifically directed at his quarterback competition, but it nonetheless sounded encouraging for Stockton's prospects. Regardless, Smart's mission is to keep Puglisi believing in his chances to be Georgia's starting quarterback. By the sound of it, mission accomplished there. Puglisi recently told reporters he 'definitely' thinks he can win the job. Smart definitely won't say he can't. Georgia's quarterback depth is dangerously thin behind Stockton and Puglisi, following the transfers of Carson Beck (Miami) and Jaden Rashada after the season. 'Neck and neck' quarterback battle at Ohio State. Shocking! Competition is the word at Ohio State, too, where Ryan Day must replace Will Howard. Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz and Tavien St. Clair have 14 recruiting stars between them, but no career starts. St. Clair, a freshman who enrolled in January, is no threat to transfer, at least, and Day admitted he's the longshot in the competition. But, wouldn't you know it, Sayin and Kienholz are 'neck and neck' by Day's telling. Simply amazing. Who could have predicted that? For more insight on Ohio State's competition, consider that Sayin probably would be headlining Alabama's quarterback battle, if not for Nick Saban's retirement spurring Sayin to reconsider his college choice. Next, peek at the quarterback competition at Missouri, where career backup Sam Horn tossed eight passes in the past three seasons. Five of those passes hit the turf. Missouri dipped into the transfer portal in the winter and secured Beau Pribula. He gained meaningful playing time last season as Penn State's backup. Pribula's arrival spurred Missouri's former backup, Drew Pyne, to set sail for Bowling Green. Sounds like an open and shut case that Tigers coach Eliah Drinkwitz nabbed Pribula to be his starting quarterback, but … wait just a second! There's a Horn o'plenty. 'Those two guys have had a really good competition,' Drinkwitz said recently of Pribula and Horn. I'm sure that 'really good competition' has nothing to with Missouri possessing no quarterback who has ever played, other than Pribula and Horn. I'm also sure Bigfoot exists. Of course, some quarterbacks can add two plus two and see it equals four and properly assess where they stand on the depth chart, based on whether they practice more with the first string or the backups. When the portal opens Wednesday, we'll learn just how well some coaches convinced their quarterbacks that an 'open competition' exists. Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.
New York Times
10-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Texas' Arch Manning ready for his chance to be a starter: ‘Sometimes it's worth the wait'
Arch Manning bided his time behind Quinn Ewers for two seasons, patiently waiting in the wings until it was his turn to take over as Texas' starting quarterback. It wasn't always easy, Manning said Thursday afternoon in his first media appearance of the spring with local reporters in Austin. But as the calendar turns to the 2025 season and the Manning era officially begins, college football's most famous quarterback sounded confident in his decision and excited about what's to come. Advertisement 'It was tough. I mean, it's tough in this age,' Manning said of the waiting. 'But I hope it pays off. There's nowhere else I want to be. I want to be at Texas. I've got friends here; I love this place. So I want to be the quarterback at the University of Texas. 'Sometimes it's worth the wait.' Manning, grandson of Archie, nephew of Peyton and Eli and son of Cooper, takes over for the Longhorns with expectations sky-high in Austin, where Texas hasn't won a national title since 2005 but is among the favorites this year. Under Ewers — who is now NFL-bound — the Longhorns made it to a national semifinal of the College Football Playoff at the end of the 2024 season before falling to eventual national champion Ohio State by two touchdowns. The Longhorns and Buckeyes will open the 2025 season against each other in Columbus in what no doubt will be an early litmus test for Manning. For now, Manning and coach Steve Sarkisian remain focused on spring practice, which is already about halfway complete for the Longhorns. So far so, good for Manning, who hasn't shied away from his new role — even talking a little trash along the way. 'I think Arch is a naturally competitive guy. And I've said this before, he's got a very infectious personality. I think people gravitate to him,' Sarkisian told reporters Tuesday. 'And one of the things I see right now is naturally, he's leading a group of maybe some younger players, especially the skill spots. … His confidence helps them. 'But I also see a competitive spirit affecting the defensive side of the ball. I think they like competing against Arch. I think they know he's gonna talk a little smack to them. … Every day is competitive because they know 16's gonna bring it. And if he gets 'em, he's gonna let 'em know about it.' Manning enters the 2025 season having appeared in nine games with two starts, leading the Longhorns to victories against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State last fall while Ewers was injured. Manning was 61-of-90 passing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions in 2024. He rushed 25 times for 108 yards and four more scores. In 2023, he attempted just five passes and completed two. Advertisement Sarkisian said this week that Manning's energy has provided a nice spark for veteran defenders who have seen plenty of spring practices in their day, including junior linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., junior defensive back Malik Muhammad and senior defensive back Michael Taaffe. Perhaps most importantly, Manning's ability to handle the spotlight has served him well — even if at times the celebrity-level of attention has frustrated him. 'That's been tough,' he said. 'I think I have good people to lean on for that type of stuff. But … I can't quit doing normal things. I'm gonna go eat dinner with my buddies and be a normal college kid.' As the Longhorns wrap up spring practice this month and then turn their attention to summer workouts and preseason practice, all eyes will continue to be on Manning. He's already the betting favorite for the Heisman, per BetMGM, and is hoping to take the Longhorns to places they haven't been in two decades. In the meantime, there's one more thing Sarkisian is helping his young star get ready for. 'The boos are gonna come here pretty soon, too,' Sarkisian said, laughing. 'I love our fans. They love the backup quarterback, but they hate interceptions, so those are coming. 'I think the good thing for Arch is he's been exposed to a lot. It's no secret who his family is, it's no secret who his uncles are, who his grandpa is, who his dad is. I think he's been exposed to a lot. And handling himself in a way I think is important to him.'
