Latest news with #SECMediaDays
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Alabama football 2024 CFP resume conversation resumed at 2025 SEC spring meetings
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Alabama football did not make the 2024 College Football Playoff. After road losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide finished its season in the ReliaQuest Bowl, outside of the realm of possibility for a national championship. But as SEC spring meetings kicked off May 26, as SEC commissioner Greg Sankey fielded questions about myriad topics including SEC football scheduling and CFP expansion, the questions of comparison continued like what separates a nine-win team facing ample competition compared to an 11-win team with a questionable strength of schedule in the eyes of the CFP committee. Advertisement And with those competition questions, a specific one, one Alabama football knows well: Was Sankey surprised that the Crimson Tide did not make the 2024 CFP? "I don't know if I would say surprised," Sankey said. He instead called it "reality." It's a situation Sankey said one spoke of at SEC Media Days last July, using Georgia — with road games against Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss ahead in 2024 — as an example. "How do you evaluate that against other teams that don't come anywhere close to that?" Sankey asked. "As I said, we learned something the first time through, and that raises the need for deeper analysis and understanding. If we're just going to just incentivize wins, playing fewer-win teams would get you to more wins. I don't think that's great for football." Advertisement Alabama finished as the No. 11 overall seed in the final 2024 CFP rankings, finishing outside of the playoff bracket with SMU taking the final at-large bid. Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football 2024 CFP conversation resumed at 2025 SEC spring meetings
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Gets Huge News on No. 1 Recruit in Minnesota
Minnesota's No. 1 ranked four-star recruit Roman Voss is one of the most prolific athletes in the entire 2026 recruiting class, ranking as the No. 8 athlete in the country. He plays quarterback and defensive back in high school, and could play almost any position that is needed with the help of his 6-foot-4 210 pound stature. He also saw play as a tight end and linebacker. Advertisement Voss has announced his final two schools that he could commit to, deciding between the Minnesota Golden Golden Gophers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. He will decide between staying in his home state with Minnesota or going to one of the most historic college football programs in Alabama. The Alabama helmet on the stage during the SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame.© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Not often have Minnesota and Alabama been the final two to battle it out for a highly ranked recruit, but the potential of staying in his home state is certainly a big draw. After Alabama held a visit for Voss in March, they immediately shot up on his list, and now rests in the final two where they will await his decision. Advertisement If the Crimson Tide are to land the top ranked recruit in Minnesota, he would join an already exceptional class with highly ranked defensive stars coming in, and could slot in anywhere that head coach Kalen DeBoer would need him. Minnesota on the other hand would benefit significantly from Voss staying in his home state, as he would be the Golden Gophers' top recruit by a long shot. The current No. 164 ranked high schooler would beat out the next highest by 82. Time will tell where he chooses to commit, but has a big decision to make on where to begin the next stages of his hopefully successful career. Related: Tyreek Hill Takes Jab at Tua Tagovailoa After Releasing QB Rankings
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
SEC quarterback rankings: Is Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed being disrespected?
SEC quarterback rankings: Is Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed being disrespected? We're in the early stages of the college football offseason, as the 2025 campaign will feel much closer after SEC Media Days this summer, but until then, it's all about positional rankings, and Texas A&M's starting quarterback Marcel Reed continues to be underrated, and, if we're being honest, disrespected by most of the national media pundits. Criticism based on reality is perfectly fine, especially in the SEC where above-average quarterback play is vital for any team to make it to the postseason. However, Reed's first season as the part-time starter alongside Conner Weigman included several critical wins based on his play, especially on the ground, but his inconsistency as a passer led to his worst performance of the season against rival Texas, completing 16-23 for 146 yards and an interception. Texas A&M's offense didn't score during the game. Still, for those of us who cover every game, not just the big ones, Reed made progress in the pocket, including his best performance in the pocket during the 4 OT loss to Auburn, throwing for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns, both career highs. Needing more weapons in the passing game, coach Mike Elko went out and landed three wide receivers from the transfer portal, led by KC Concepcion and Mario Craver. Along with former Alabama/Texas tight end Amari Niblack, Texas A&M's receiving corps is much faster and should consistently gain separation in their routes, meaning Marcel Reed will need to quickly work through his progressions, make the right read, and throw an accurate ball. We'll have to wait and see if Reed is destined to improve but until then, Lance Taylor, co-host of The Next Round show released his SEC quarterback rankings, placing Reed 11th overall out of 16 signal callers. LaNorris Sellers — South Carolina John Mateer — Oklahoma Garrett Nussmeier — LSU Arch Manning — Texas DJ Lagway — Florida Jackson Arnold — Auburn Austin Simmons — Ole Miss Ty Simpson — Alabama Diego Pavia — Vanderbilt Taylen Green — Arkansas Marcel Reed — Texas A&M Gunner Stockton — Georgia Joey Aguilar — Tennessee Beau Pribula — Missouri Luke Kromenhoek OR Blake Shapen — Mississippi State Zach Calzada OR Cutter Boley — Kentucky 1-5 makes sense, especially John Mateer after what he accomplished with Washington State last season. But ranking Jackson Arnold, Austin Simmons, Ty Simpson, and even Taylen Green above Marcel Reed is questionable, especially given the fact that Simmons and Simpson have yet to see little to no playtime. Positional rankings were meant to be debated, and this one surely fits the mold. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texas A&M HC Mike Elko comments on QB Nico Iamaleava's decision to leave Tennessee
Texas A&M's 2025 season is still a little over four months away. Still, the Aggies are preparing to gear up for the annual Maroon & White spring game, which will take place on Saturday afternoon amid the offseason's widespread cancellations of collegiate spring games, which won't be happening in College Station any time soon. Before the Aggies' final tuneups before the game, head coach Mike Elko spoke to the media and had plenty to say on various current topics, including the state of NIL payments amid former Tennessee starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who was reportedly asking the Volunteers for a new NIL deal worth $4 million. This led Tennessee coach Josh Heupel to move on from the former five-star signal caller. Advertisement Elko, like every coach above the age of 45, understands that this is the future of college football, as confusing as it looks, and it won't be conclusive until the House vs. NCAA Settlement is, well, settled. Concerning Iamaleava's decision to enter the transfer portal, Elko kept it brief but noted that the current system is not working. "You should ask Marcel (Reed) if I had any words on how I would handle a similar situation between him and I.""We're all on the same page across the board. Everybody agrees that the players deserve freedom. Everybody agrees that the current system is not working." The freedom to choose a different playing destination is not controversial, but until NIL deals are capped, astronomical deals will garner discussions regarding a lack of fairness. Elko won't be the last SEC head coach to comment on this situation, so expect this to continue throughout the summer, leading into July's SEC Media Days. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M football HC Mike Elko comments on the Nico Iamaleava saga
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texas A&M HC Mike Elko comments on QB Nico Iamaleava's decision to leave Tennessee
Texas A&M's 2025 season is still a little over four months away. Still, the Aggies are preparing to gear up for the annual Maroon & White spring game, which will take place on Saturday afternoon amid the offseason's widespread cancellations of collegiate spring games, which won't be happening in College Station any time soon. Before the Aggies' final tuneups before the game, head coach Mike Elko spoke to the media and had plenty to say on various current topics, including the state of NIL payments amid former Tennessee starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who was reportedly asking the Volunteers for a new NIL deal worth $4 million. This led Tennessee coach Josh Heupel to move on from the former five-star signal caller. Advertisement Elko, like every coach above the age of 45, understands that this is the future of college football, as confusing as it looks, and it won't be conclusive until the House vs. NCAA Settlement is, well, settled. Concerning Iamaleava's decision to enter the transfer portal, Elko kept it brief but noted that the current system is not working. "You should ask Marcel (Reed) if I had any words on how I would handle a similar situation between him and I.""We're all on the same page across the board. Everybody agrees that the players deserve freedom. Everybody agrees that the current system is not working." The freedom to choose a different playing destination is not controversial, but until NIL deals are capped, astronomical deals will garner discussions regarding a lack of fairness. Elko won't be the last SEC head coach to comment on this situation, so expect this to continue throughout the summer, leading into July's SEC Media Days. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M football HC Mike Elko comments on the Nico Iamaleava saga
