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New York Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bret Bielema's grocery recruiting advice, plus CFB needs Dan Campbell
Until Saturday Newsletter 🏈 | This is The Athletic's college football newsletter. Sign up here to receive Until Saturday directly in your inbox. Today in college football news, if you like pop music — well heck, everybody likes pop music — you might really like the new Lights album. Having spent the first decade of my working life at Publix, the Southeastern grocery chain, I of course locked on to this as my favorite detail from Scott Dochterman's new story on dark-horse Illinois: 'On recruiting trips as an assistant at Wisconsin, Bret Bielema learned from Barry Alvarez to watch offensive linemen move while stacking groceries to see whether they could block for the Badgers.' Valid. Wise. Mandatory. Couldn't possibly agree more. Alvarez knows ball. Let's go to the tape. If I'm a recruiting staffer for a Power 4 football program, and for some reason I am sent on a grocery run with a prospective student-athlete, there are several factors to which I'm going to pay punishingly close attention. (For today, let's just put these athletes through the grocery-bagging drill. Stocking shelves is for those who have earned helmet stripes.) Thank you for listening. Go read Scott's story on Illinois. 💰 Would a billionaire booster and an eight-figure coach be the two best choices to create a fair college sports system? Skeptical! Still, there are some agreeable stances in a review of key quotes by reported presidential commission co-chairs Cody Campbell of Texas Tech and Nick Saban. 9️⃣ Everything a nine-game SEC schedule would mean, including a refresher on each team's three potential annual rivals. 📈 The newly huge FBS schedule has paved the way for FCS to soon expand to 12 regular-season games, in addition to its own even huger playoff. 🍗 Texas A&M-Texas will be on Black Friday this year, even though Thanksgiving is their far more traditional date — 70 times! They're now avoiding the NFL's chokehold on the bigger holiday. (Well, the NFL's started taking over Black Friday too, so just keep shrinking out of its way, I guess.) 🍱 'How studying sushi chefs helped Vanderbilt land a top-100 recruit.' Say no more. 🏀 'Of the thousands of college basketball players who entered the transfer portal this spring, at least 137 of them stand out because of one thing they're all lacking: remaining college eligibility.' I love it. Married to the game. Hustle don't quit. Make them say no. (There's actually way more to the story than mere stubbornness or wishful thinking.) 🥎 Diamond time: 🎭 The Real World: Chapel Hill: What's Urban Meyer been up to lately, other than wearing sunglasses on Fox's Saturday pregame show? This past weekend in Columbus, he was one of several major Buckeye-adjacent names — along with Kirk Herbstreit and current stars Caleb Downs and Jeremiath Smith — to appear at a Life Surge event, a kind of Give Us Money To Somehow Make Yourself Better At Real Estate thing that is also heavily infused with televangelist-style Christian theming and branding. At one point during the event, Meyer told a story about being asked by Ohio State's 'school attorney' to stop having Bible classes and church services in some sort of Buckeye capacity. Meyer said he responded to Ohio State's separation-of-church-and-state concerns like this: 'I said, 'Well, we're gonna do it.' … 'I'm really busy. We're doing it.' … '(Athletic director Gene Smith), we're doing this, and if not, you gotta let me go.' … So, the compromise: We had to call it 'reflection.'' Until the past couple years, I would not have guessed the hyper-competitive Meyer had ever threatened to quit the most prominent job in college football because of a dispute about a Bible study. I knew he was named after a pope, sure, and being friends with Tim Tebow surely imbues one with a buff to religiosity. But going full Bill McCartney? Surprising. Advertisement There's another surprise in Meyer's statement during the event that he prefers college football over the NFL because CFB coaches can selectively recruit pious players. Not to say someone couldn't change over time, but how would we square that claim with the non-stop chaos units that were Meyer's late-2000s Florida Gators teams? (Along with his own evocative year in Jacksonville.) Just interesting to watch. I understand being in the NFL is something almost no coach would willingly give up before (or sometimes after) retirement age. It's the peak of the profession, the highest level of competition and all that stuff. I also know life is long and has many unforeseen avenues. So if there should come a time when Dan Campbell, the 49-year-old who has recently led the Detroit Lions' two best seasons since 1991, is ever looking for work, college football would be a great place to look. There are many examples that demonstrate Campbell's erudite meatheadity is a perfect fit for CFB, and yes, the famous Biting Kneecaps speech was one of the first. The latest was Rustin Dodd's assignment to drink Campbell's daily caffeine treatment: 'Two 20-ounce Pike Place medium roast coffees with two shots of espresso in each one. The colloquial term for the drink is a 'black eye.' But I had one concern. ''Haha,' I wrote back. 'I might die.' Did the author die? Better read to find out. (No, Rustin survived, though so did one of the coffees.) This amount of caffeine of course reminded me of Larry 'nine Red Bulls in a day' Fedora, Ed '10 Monsters in a day' Orgeron and Dana 'case of Red Bull per week, every week, forever' Holgorsen, among CFB's many other energy demons. I hope Campbell succeeds in Detroit, partly because Lions fans never get to have anything nice for every long. All I'm saying: Sure would be fun if we could trade Belichick for the Texas A&M alum right now. That's a wrap. Email me at untilsaturday@ on what you want more of in the newsletter! Last week's most-clicked: It was the link to the New York Times' news story on the new pope's identity. Guessing this means some of you learned major world news from Until Saturday. In light of that, have this story on Pope Leo XIV's favorite sports teams all suddenly becoming very popular in Vegas. 📫 Love Until Saturday? Check out The Athletic's other newsletters.
New York Times
06-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
No. 5 Florida knocks off No. 7 Alabama to clinch second seed in SEC Tournament
By Kennington Smith III and Scott Dochterman TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 5 Florida was one of the hottest teams in the country, winning six games in a row from Feb. 4-22, including an 81-70 win over No. 1 Auburn. An upset loss on Feb. 25 at Georgia was a setback, but the Gators have bounced back with two impressive wins: 89-70 over No. 12 Texas A&M on Saturday and a 99-94 win over No. 7 Alabama on Wednesday night. Advertisement With the win, Florida (26-4, 13-4 SEC) has clinched the second seed in next week's SEC Tournament, and it's the first time in program history that the Gators have won two top-10 road games in the same season. Sophomore Alex Condin's career-high 27 points and 10 rebounds was the highlight performance of the night. Senior Walton Clayton Jr. chipped in 21 points, five rebounds and eight assists to lead the Gators. For Alabama Mark Sears' 30 points and 19 points from Labaron Philon were a few bright spots for an Alabama offense that found its shot late in the game but wasn't consistent enough across 40 minutes. It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Gators under third-year coach Todd Golden. Florida, which has won eight of its past nine games, qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year as a No. 7 seed after missing the tournament the previous two years. The Gators now have seven Quad 1 wins. Florida now is in strong competition to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the third time overall and first since 2014. The previous two times the Gators earned a No. 1 seed, they reached the Final Four, including a national championship in 2007. Florida ends regular-season play on Saturday against Ole Miss. A possible SEC semifinal matchup against either Alabama or perhaps Tennessee (which split with the Gators during the regular season) should determine whether Florida enters the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. — Dochterman In a matchup of top-10 offenses, Florida kept Alabama's offense in check and controlled the pace with its physicality. The Gators outrebounded Alabama 50-35, including a 16-10 edge in offensive rebounds, which led to a 19-10 advantage in second-chance points. 'I don't think anybody has been particularly tough,' Alabama coach Nate Oats said to ESPN at halftime. 'We got to get some guys in there to dig out some tough defensive rebounds. We're down six (in offensive rebounding).' Advertisement That rebounding advantage, plus an efficient shooting night (49 percent from the field) meant Florida prevented Alabama from playing in transition. While in the half court, Florida's defense kept Alabama from finding consistency from 3-point range (9-of-25) and forced the offense into tough 2-pointers. Florida had the advantage in pace, scoring 22 fast-break points compared to just 10 for Alabama. It was a bitter senior night for players like Sears, who finished his Alabama career with 79 home wins. His 16 first-half points both teams, but a 5-for-14 shooting performance in the second half, including 1-6 from 3, came at an inopportune time as only one Alabama player shot better than 50 percent from the floor: Philon. Alabama got hot in the final five minutes, scoring 24 points and raising its percentages, but one stat still stands out: 68 percent (17-of-25) from the free-throw line. — Smith Alabama's late-season stretch was well-documented with seven consecutive games against ranked opponents. Wednesday's loss drops the Crimson Tide to 2-4 in the first six of those games. The last game of the regular season is on Saturday at No. 1 Auburn. Alabama (23-7, 12-5) has yet to secure a top-four seed and double-bye in the SEC Tournament, which is the difference between playing as many as four games (beginning next Thursday) or as many as three games (beginning next Friday) in Nashville. Against Auburn, a win will clinch a top-four seed, but a loss could drop Alabama to the No. 5 seed — losing a tiebreaker to Missouri because of a head-to-head loss. But if Missouri loses one of its two remaining games against Oklahoma and Kentucky, Alabama will clinch a double-bye. If Tennessee loses to both Ole Miss and South Carolina, that would deliver the Tide a double-bye. Advertisement Alabama's late-season skid doesn't diminish the ceiling of this team's potential but serves as a barometer for how it stacks up against some of the nation's best teams with the postseason looming. It's worth noting that Alabama was 5-6 in its last 11 games before its Final Four run a year ago, but finding some momentum entering March is the most ideal outcome during the next week and a half. — Smith Late in the second half, Alabama freshman center Aiden Sherrell collided with Florida senior forward Alijah Martin while attempting to secure a loose ball and left the game with a head injury. Martin was taken to the locker room for evaluation but was able to return. Sherrell was having one of the best games of his career with 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting in just 10 minutes of action. (Photo of Walter Clayton Jr. (1): Brandon Sumrall / Getty Images)
New York Times
17-02-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Big Ten, SEC leaders resume search for compromise with future of CFP, college sports in focus
By Ralph D. Russo, Scott Dochterman and Seth Emerson NEW ORLEANS — Every year around this time, SEC athletic directors meet to go over conference business. This year they have company: Big Ten athletic directors, who moved their annual winter meetings south to join them, along with the commissioners and staff of both conferences. Advertisement It is the second such in-person gathering of the leaders of the two wealthiest and most powerful conferences in college sports. They met last October in Nashville and will renew talks Wednesday in an effort to find common ground on some key issues: The future format of the College Football Playoff. Football scheduling. How college sports will be governed and regulated after a settlement in the House v. NCAA lawsuit is approved, allowing schools to pay athletes directly as part of a revenue sharing plan. The expectation going in is that no major agreements will be finalized this week — unless, with all league leaders in the same room, they realize their interests are aligned enough to do so. The Athletic spoke to a dozen people briefed on the upcoming proceedings about what topics will be discussed. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the agenda. Here's a look at the topics of discussion. While no major changes are likely to be made for the upcoming season to the 12-team format — a tweak to the seeding is possible — just about everything is open to potential change from 2026 onward. That might seem drastic after just one year of major college football's first true championship tournament, but that's not how administrators see it. 'This format was not built for the current conference alignment,' one AD told The Athletic. The original expanded CFP structure included spots for the six highest-ranked conference champions, four of which received first-round byes, and six at-large squads. But that was decided before the Pac-12 crumbled as 10 member schools left for the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC. A last-minute agreement among the CFP's board of managers allowed for five conference champs to pick up automatic bids, with the top four securing byes. But this year, that led to teams ranked ninth (Boise State) and 12th (Arizona State) overall taking the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, respectively. Ultimately, all four teams with byes lost their quarterfinal games. Advertisement The quirky seeding could be addressed for next season's CFP, but it can't be done without eight other conferences and Notre Dame on board — which means it's no lock to change. Last season, No. 1 Oregon faced sixth-ranked Ohio State (bumped back to the No. 8 seed by Boise State's and Arizona State's byes) in a quarterfinal. It seemed like a penalty for the unbeaten Ducks to play the Buckeyes in that round, and Ohio State won that matchup on its way to the national title. It's likely both the Big Ten and SEC will push for seeding changes, but there is urgency required to form a consensus on a range of larger issues. The postseason's new television contract kicks in after this season. Unlike the current CFP arrangement, any changes to the Playoff structure beginning in 2026 do not require unanimous approval from the FBS conferences and Notre Dame. According to a memo of understanding completed last March when the Playoff's new contract with ESPN was finalized, the Big Ten and SEC have the most impactful voices. Collectively, they can push through format changes without consensus from the CFP board of managers. 'We do have a defined role where we have to be clear participants at the end of that conversation,' SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said after the last SEC-Big Ten summit. What could change? Just about everything. Expect a larger field. How big? 'If you're going to go to 14,' another athletic director said, referencing the tweak reportedly floated by Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti during the discussions last spring, 'why not just go to 16? Along with adding more participants, establishing a guaranteed number of Playoff spots per conference will once again be up for discussion. According to school officials, the Big Ten is more locked in on guaranteed spots (perhaps as many as four) than the SEC, but there is plenty of interest within the SEC. Coincidentally, the Big Ten earned more CFP spots (four) in the first year of the 12-team format than the SEC (three), which would have benefited from more dedicated qualifiers per conference. Advertisement Any move toward guaranteed spots for the leagues' top teams, however, also would need to come with a reimagination of how conference championship games work. One possibility is using championship weekend as a CFP play-in weekend. In addition to the Big Ten and SEC championships, there would be play-in games between the third and sixth seeds and fourth and fifth seeds and perhaps throughout the leagues' entire lineup. The sorting of matchups by record is a similar concept to what the Big Ten tried to institute at the end of the COVID-19-altered 2020 season. The idea was floated late last year, each school has had a chance to think about it, and the New Orleans meeting will offer a chance for everyone to exchange notes and thoughts. Other iterations of this concept are likely to come up. How about four play-in games matching the top eight teams in the conference, essentially turning championship weekend into the first weekend of the CFP, with a bunch of win-or-go-home games instead of title games between teams only playing for seeding? The conferences don't necessarily need to agree on how their auto-bids are determined, but there is a growing recognition that uniformity between Big Ten and SEC is necessary to create equitable paths to a national championship. The football programs that make up the SEC and Big Ten have outpaced their conference rivals on the field and in the bank. But the greatest disparity lies in the television ratings. Of the highest-rated 20 games in each of the last two seasons, 65 of the 80 teams involved belong currently to either the Big Ten (34) or SEC (31). All but two of those 40 games (Colorado-Colorado State in 2023, Army-Navy in 2024) involved at least one of the leagues. With the sport's greatest brands and visibility, it makes sense for the leagues to explore a ratings-friendly annual football series, like the former SEC-Big 12 challenge and Big Ten-ACC challenge in basketball. Schools and league officials discussed the possibility last fall, but there are hurdles. Advertisement One potential deal-breaker: SEC schools play eight league contests and one other power-conference opponent, while the Big Ten has played nine conference games since 2016. In addition, 13 of the Big Ten's 18 schools play at least 10 power-conference games this fall. In the SEC, 13 of the 16 schools face only nine power-conference teams. 'We obviously can't force them to play nine (conference) games. They have to do what's best for them,' Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork told The Athletic during football season. 'But now that I'm in the Big Ten, I like it. I think it does draw value. I think it provides your fans with marquee matchups. That's what fans want. There's a noticeable difference in terms of just overall revenue around a Big Ten game versus a nonconference game against the Group of 5.' Bjork was a strong proponent of a nine-game SEC schedule during his previous stints as AD at Ole Miss and Texas A&M. He added, 'I do believe there is a desire to get to nine games within the SEC.' Another hurdle: Both leagues have teams that play treasured rivalry games against teams in other conferences. Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina all play in-state ACC foes, while Iowa, Oregon and Washington also have in-state rivalries. So a Big Ten-SEC crossover series would lock in an 11th power-conference game for each of the Big Ten schools, and never mind any other scheduled future series. Each conference's media partners would benefit from that arrangement, and perhaps a group of SEC-Big Ten games could be packaged and sold to advertisers. Still, one athletic director indicated those discussions are on the backburner now. 'We can't make decisions on regular-season scheduling until we know what the Playoff will be,' that AD said. The SEC's future schedule, meanwhile, will be discussed when its athletic directors meet on Tuesday. It's unlikely a decision will be announced then, unless ESPN shows up with financial assurances that would push enough schools into the nine-game camp. Barring that, it's likely a decision will be made later this spring to do another temporary eight-game rotation that covers the 2026 and '27 seasons. Advertisement But there is still hope among nine-game advocates that television money will come through and move the reluctant to agree to expand. The goal is to have some sort of decision by SEC spring meetings in late May. There are limits to how much two conferences can collaborate when it comes to how they will approach revenue sharing because collaboration can slip into collusion and open them up to more antitrust lawsuits. 'Our legal counsel is very skilled at this point in defining the boundaries, what we can talk about and we cannot talk about,' Sankey said after the first summit. Still, there is work being done among the Power 4 leagues — including the Big 12 and the ACC — which agreed as part of the settlement to set up an outside entity that will handle enforcement of its new rules: a cap on revenue sharing, roster limits and a system to evaluate the fair market value of name, image and likeness compensation deals between athletes and third parties. The NCAA will still oversee and enforce rules related to academic eligibility. The settlement terms still must be approved by Judge Claudia Wilken, who scheduled a final hearing on April 7. Wilken granted preliminary approval on Oct. 7, 2024. SEC and Big Ten athletic directors are likely to hear an update from their colleagues who are working on setting up a limited liability corporation (LLC) to provide enforcement and oversight. Exactly what that entity will enforce needs clarification. The settlement terms set up parameters, but details still need to be hashed out. For example, a roster limit for football has been set at 105 for competition and practice during the season. What about during the offseason? Can teams have more players training with the team throughout the spring and summer? If those players are not on scholarship or receiving rev-share payments, can they receive other benefits through the school? Advertisement NCAA governance is also in the process of being reformed. Six proposals have been presented to the association, including one from the Power 4 and another from the 22 Division I conferences that don't sponsor football at the highest level. The P4's proposal includes those conferences taking over the operation of championship events, a prospect that has been met with some skepticism by the rest of Division I, which is most protective of access to those events and the revenue they produce. An NCAA subcommittee composed of representatives from the groups that presented proposals is scheduled later this month to begin digging into the various pitches with the hope of reaching a compromise. Once the new rules are set by the House settlement and new NCAA governance is in place, many officials say, everyone needs to agree to work together, even if it's to their own school's detriment. With college athletics changing so rapidly, and the NCAA taking a reduced role in oversight and enforcement, it makes sense for the industry's most powerful leagues to fill that leadership vacuum and provide a new way forward. What league officials discuss and decide at this week's summit will have a direct bearing on what the future holds in all facets of college athletics. (Photo of Tony Petitti and Greg Sankey: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
New York Times
15-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
2025 NFL Draft roundtable: Reacting to Dane Brugler's latest top 100 board
After visits to the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl, The Athletic draft expert Dane Brugler released his updated top 100 board for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. As always, there was plenty to talk about, from which players made huge rises to how the quarterbacks stack to where NFL teams might be able to pinpoint potential 'steals' — those prospects who deserve more love than they're getting. What were the key takeaways from Brugler's latest board? Draft analysts Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman break it down … GO DEEPER 2025 NFL Draft order: Rounds 1 and 2 set after Eagles' Super Bowl LIX win Nick Baumgardner: It wasn't really a surprise to me (as I have similar thoughts), but seeing Jalon Walker at No. 3 still made me raise my eyebrows. That ranking says as much about the NFL's desire for players who can fill the Micah Parsons role as anything else, but frankly, Walker was one of the most consistently explosive front-seven hammers all season. He checks every box physically, and his testing won't be that far behind Abdul Carter's. Advertisement It feels a little bit like the Travon Walker situation from a few years ago, albeit at a different position — and with a player who is probably more ready for prime time. Jalon Walker only started one season at Georgia, but he was outstanding. The ability to take a defensive end and give him coverage and/or run responsibilities in the box when you want to is something NFL defensive coordinators covet now more than ever. Scott Dochterman: I feel the same about Walker — he was an impact performer on Georgia's defense, but he's someone I thought was more in the 10-20 range as a prospect. But he has the burst and physicality to do virtually anything as a blitzer, edge rusher or traditional linebacker. You can't have enough athletes on defense with that type of athletic ability. I was probably more surprised with a few prospects who fell out of the top 50. I've thought Texas A&M defensive end Nic Scourton (No. 53 in the rankings) was a potential first-rounder stretching to his days at Purdue. He has enough size and power to play a heavy five-technique, slide inside on passing downs, and enough skill and edge-rushing ability to stand up when required. SCOURTON SACK 😈 @NicCaraway3 📺 ABC#GigEm — Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 27, 2024 Another one was Arizona offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea (52), who likely will kick inside to guard in the NFL but can play tackle if necessary. Although he and Scourton are both just outside the top 50, I thought they would be a little higher. Baumgardner: Yes, absolutely — possibly more than one. I couldn't bring myself to put more than two that high during my latest three-round mock, though, because I don't think there are more than two QBs who belong inside the top 50 this year. There are significant questions about Ward and Sanders; there are larger questions about everyone else. Advertisement Jalen Milroe (61) is the guy who feels most likely to be over-drafted this year, simply based on potential. He's nearly 230 pounds with a gigantic arm and he's going to run in the 4.3s whenever he decides to line up for a 40. Some scouts see a potentially souped-up version of Jalen Hurts, and others wonder whether he can't wind up more like Lamar Jackson. All of this is guesswork, however, because — unlike Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. last year — there are no stretches on Milroe's college resume that lead us to believe he's ready to start in the NFL next season. And though there's been plenty of recent hype surrounding Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart (57), I think it'd be wise to remember Louisville's Tyler Shough (59). I have a hard time seeing either player going in the first round — Round 2 might even be a reach — but as we've established many times, many teams need quarterbacks. GO DEEPER What I'm hearing: NFL insiders skeptical there's a franchise-caliber QB available in draft Dochterman: Yes, but only out of desperation. Nobody besides those two have first-round grades. In the first month of the 2024 season, I thought Milroe might emerge as a top-five selection — he was stunning against Wisconsin and Georgia. Then he became inconsistent, and his final analysis is incomplete. Ultimately, is he a bigger version of Russell Wilson and a long-term starter, or a Jake Locker-type? That's what will have scouts and GMs scouring every last second of tape. Some team that misses out on Sanders or Ward might move up to the late first round and take a flier. Dart has a case, based on his numbers and efficiency at Ole Miss, but there were times he didn't quite come through in clutch moments of close games — the Rebels were 0-3 in games decided by one score last fall, which kept them out of the College Football Playoff. The issues weren't all Dart's, but he shouldered some of the blame with a combined four touchdowns and three interceptions in those losses. He had 25 touchdowns and three interceptions in Ole Miss' 10 victories. But he's worth a second-round pick, for sure. Advertisement Baumgardner: Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (82). He was an elite defensive back in high school who transformed his body and turned himself into everything an NFL team looks for in a flex tight end. If he continues to get stronger, he could be an every-down starter. The 6-foot-3, 238-pounder blends elite length (33 1/8-inch arms) with even better athleticism and explosion. Fannin made 13 contested catches during last season's ridiculous 117-catch, 1,555-yard season and is a legit problem for defensive backs at all areas of the field. He's also just 20 years old. Though he's still on the thinner side now, he had his share of blocking wins during his run at the Senior Bowl. HISTORY. With this catch, BGSU's @fannin_jr became the new FBS single-season record holder for receiving yards by a tight end. Incredible season for the consensus All-American.@BG_Football | #MACtion — MACtion (@MACSports) December 27, 2024 It wouldn't surprise me to see as many as four tight ends go in the first round, as LSU's Mason Taylor (37) and Miami's Elijah Arroyo (39) will be tempting for several teams late. Dane has seven tight ends in the top 100 — and the class doesn't run dry there. Clemson's Jake Briningstool, Iowa's Luke Lachey, Syracuse's Oronde Gadsden II and Georgia Tech's Jackson Hawes are just a few of the other intriguing prospects, but this group is deep. Dochterman: There are several who come to mind, but if I had to choose one, it'd be Ole Miss defensive end Princely Umanmielen (75). The Rebels featured the best defensive line south of Columbus, Ohio, and several players received high accolades. But Umanmielen was Ole Miss' most disruptive player on the line of scrimmage this season. Umanmielen (6-4, 255) has incredible quickness and burst off the edge and can convert that speed to power like few players in the draft. He had the nation's fifth-highest pass-rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus, and finished with a team-high 10.5 sacks. If I were drafting for Detroit at No. 28, or pretty much any team to start the second round, Umanmielen would enter my discussion. Among the others under consideration are Texas tight end Gunnar Helm (64), whom I would rank just slightly behind Michigan's Colston Loveland for the No. 2 tight end spot. Big 12 corners Jacob Parrish (86), Cobee Bryant (96) and Darien Porter (99) are very likable prospects and potential early contributors. GO DEEPER NFL Draft 2023 prospect tracker: Profiles, news and analysis of the top players by position Baumgardner: I don't know if I can get behind Oregon running back Jordan James (62) over Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins (70), but I understand why teams are interested in his profile as a tough runner who gets the job done without sacrificing his elusiveness. One player Dane could be too low on here is Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron (40). I thought he was ready to go to the NFL last year. And I know there are concerns about his body type and recovery speed, but he's one of the smartest, savviest defenders in this class and just finds the football. Advertisement Many people have cautioned teams not to overlook Georgia's Malaki Starks the same way they did former Alabama DB Brian Branch, but the same could be said about Barron — who probably could line up at safety in the NFL. Dochterman: I might be splitting hairs, but I thought Josh Simmons (17) was a bit high. He's a great prospect, but Ohio State's offensive line played at its highest level in the College Football Playoff when Donovan Jackson (34) replaced Simmons at left tackle. Simmons' injury prevented everyone from seeing him at his best. I'd have him a little lower (and Jackson much higher), but Simmons is still a first-rounder. Perhaps North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel (38) fits in the same category, although he's still a top-50 prospect. I was surprised UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger came in at No. 43, but stylistically, he was perfect in the Big Ten. Not too bad for a former walk-on. GO DEEPER Shrine Bowl takeaways: Which 2025 NFL Draft prospects have raised their stock? (Photo of Jalon Walker: John Adams / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
New York Times
31-01-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Big Ten roster shuffle reset: Who's rising and falling after the winter portal window?
The first transfer portal window has closed, and schools soon will turn their attention to spring practice. Where do the Big Ten programs stand after the first wave of roster movement? Here's a look at the teams rising and falling as well as those stuck in neutral, with analysis from The Athletic's Scott Dochterman and Antonio Morales. Advertisement Few programs are as aggressive about adding high-end talent as the Ducks, who avoided any significant portal losses and made several strong additions. The Ducks bolstered their offensive line with Texas State's Alex Harkey, Nevada tackle Isaiah World and USC guard Emmauel Pregnon, the latter move weakening a conference foe in a key area in the process. Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman, a freshman All-American in 2023, and Tulane running back Makhi Hughes, who rushed for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, were also headline-making gets. The Ducks took some bets on recruiting pedigree over production by bringing in Florida State receiver Malik Benson and USC defensive lineman Bear Alexander. Even if those two don't pan out, there's still enough talent in Oregon's transfer class to offset it. — Morales The Nittany Lions didn't make a huge splash in the portal, and it could be argued the loss of receivers Trey Wallace (to Ole Miss) and Omari Evans (to Washington) for Troy's Devonte Ross (76 catches, 1,043 yards, 11 touchdowns) and USC's Kyron Hudson (38 catches, 462 yards, three touchdowns) was at best an even swap. But viewed through the lens of 2024 Ohio State's national championship, Penn State came out much better than neutral. The roster returns several starters who could have declared for the NFL Draft after losing the Notre Dame on a last-second field goal in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl. The core of Penn State's offense, including quarterback Drew Allar (3,327 yards) and 1,000-yard running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, opted to return. Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton was overshadowed by potential No. 1 NFL pick Abdul Carter in 2024, but he's one of the nation's best at his position. And prying defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State means the Nittany Lions are all-in with their national title aspirations. — Dochterman GO DEEPER Who will win the College Football Playoff and Heisman in 2025? Our staff makes early picks After winning 10 games for the first time since 2001, the Illini enter the offseason with more momentum than at any time in recent memory. They followed portal blueprints laid out by Ohio State (which worked) and Iowa (mixed results) of paying up to keep NFL-caliber players in school, which should vault them into Big Ten contention. Quarterback Luke Altmyer, safety Xavier Scott, left tackle J.C. Davis and edge rusher Gabe Jacas turned down NFL opportunities to help equip head coach Bret Bielema with 18 returning starters. Advertisement Illinois didn't lose any starters to the portal and targeted players who should have immediate impact. The Illini landed All-Big Sky tackle Ayden Knapik from Idaho, Purdue punter Keelan Crimmins and West Virginia wide receiver Hudson Clement, who should replace Pat Bryant as Altmyer's go-to target. Also, Illinois grabbed four defensive linemen and former Northern Illinois starting quarterback Ethan Hampton, who will back up Altmyer. — Dochterman Based strictly on its additions, Nebraska qualifies as a Riser. But with at least 32 departures, including 12 to other power-conference schools, it's fair to judge the Huskers as slightly above treading water — at least until the spring portal window opens. Receivers Dane Key (Kentucky) and Nyziah Hunter (Cal) combined for 87 catches, 1,293 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Nebraska also added multiple lower-level pickups who should help right away, including Sun Belt defensive player of the year Marques Watson-Trent, a linebacker from Georgia Southern. All-Southern Conference defensive lineman Jaylen George (East Tennessee State) and All-Big Sky cornerback Andrew Marshall (Idaho) are likely to make an impact. The Huskers took some chances on talented SEC departures, including starting Alabama right tackle Elijah Pritchett and former five-star edge Williams Nwaneri from Missouri. Whether those two can perform up to their recruiting pedigree could swing the Huskers' final portal grade. — Dochterman The Hawkeyes' defense has carried the program for nearly a decade while inconsistent quarterback play has kept them from truly competing for a Big Ten title. That formula has changed this offseason with the signing of South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski, who was the Football Championship Subdivision's Walter Payton Award winner in 2023. With two FCS titles on his resume, Gronowski has thrown 10,309 yards and 93 touchdowns while rushing for 1,767 yards and 37 scores in his career. He instantly upgrades Iowa's offense. Advertisement The Hawkeyes lost three players to power-conference programs, but two were walk-ons and another was a backup. Central Michigan defensive tackle Jonah Price (11 tackles for loss) and Chattanooga receiver Sam Phillips (50 catches, 823 yards, three touchdowns) should join Gronowski as immediate starters. — Dochterman GO DEEPER Iowa fans have QB scar tissue — can Mark Gronowski appease them? It's been a promising portal window for Rutgers, which hasn't had many significant departures. The Scarlet Knights brought in proven producers on defense, starting with James Madison edge rusher Eric O'Neil (13 sacks and 18.5 tackles in 2024) and Ohio defensive lineman Bradley Weaver (8.5 sacks and 15 TFLs). The secondary also got a talent infusion with the arrival of Marshall corner Jacobie Henderson, Penn State corner Cam Miller and UNLV safety Jett Elad, all of whom started or played meaningful contributing roles at their previous stops. Meanwhile, the offense picked up some playmakers North Texas receiver DT Sheffield and FAU running back CJ Campbell Jr. — Morales Most of the Wolverines' key offseason additions came through the high school ranks, headlined by five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood. Michigan addressed a couple of needs in the transfer portal, though. Fresno State transfer quarterback Mikey Keene is a useful veteran who could buy the Wolverines time until Underwood is ready to play this fall. It'll be impossible to fully replace Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant on the interior defensive line, but Tre Williams (Clemson) and Damon Payne (Alabama) should help the cause. Alabama running back Justice Haynes is the best player Michigan added this portal cycle and should compete for the starting job. Michigan didn't land any transfers at receiver, though, and that position could use an additional veteran presence. — Morales Head coach Jonathan Smith has always been good at finding under-the-radar players and he's trying to do it again entering Year 2 in East Lansing. The Spartans made it a point to bolster their offensive line and did so with four transfer pickups, headlined by Montana State's Conner Moore, who was an FCS All-American. Out of Michigan State's 16 incoming transfers, Moore is one of the five who came from the FCS or Division II. Questions about how they'll adjust to their new level won't get full answers until the fall. Advertisement Michigan State lost two of its top five receivers from this past season, but landing Omari Kelly (Middle Tennessee) and Chrishon McCray (Kent State) could help solve for those departures. — Morales One byproduct of winning the national championship and playing deep into January is that the Buckeyes haven't been able to truly go to work in the transfer portal yet. Ohio State has some solid transfers in the fold like West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson and Purdue tight end Max Klare, but the program has signed just six as February arrives. None of the 14 Buckeyes transferring out were major impact players in 2024. The quarterback depth took a hit with the departures of Devin Brown and Air Noland, but Ohio State still has Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair, with the former five-star Alabama commit Sayin first in line to replace Will Howard. — Morales GO DEEPER Transfer portal winners and losers: Miami, LSU load up for title runs in 2025 Every rebuilding program will use Indiana as an example of perfect portal execution. New coach Curt Cignetti brought a strong core of players with him from James Madison, lured some more solid veterans in the portal and produced the greatest season in school history. Can the Hoosiers replicate their 2024 success in the portal this time around? Replacing quarterback Kurtis Rourke was a priority, and landing former Cal starter Fernando Mendoza (3,004 yards, 68.7 completion percentage in 2024) was critical. The Hoosiers signed Michigan's top receiver Tyler Morris along with Appalachian State wideout Makai Jackson (a third-team All-Sun Belt pick) and Ohio State swing offensive lineman Zen Michalski. On defense, signing first-team All-Conference USA defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler from Western Kentucky was important in replacing C.J. West. At this point, Indiana has covered its bases as best it could. Was it enough to hold up over what promises to be a more difficult schedule in 2025? That remains to be seen. — Dochterman Washington's class ultimately will be evaluated by what it can get out of the transfers who played for Jedd Fisch at Arizona. Tacario Davis was viewed as one of the best corners in college football a year ago but had a disappointing season after returning to the Wildcats. Jacob Manu is a productive linebacker whose 2024 was cut short because of injury. If the Huskies get the best version of those two, they'll be clear risers in 2025. Advertisement Transfers like Washington State linebacker Taariq Al-Uqdah, Arizona defensive lineman Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei and Utah defensive lineman Simote Pepa should help ease the loss of the defensive contributors who left the program, such as corner Thaddeus Dixon, linebacker Khmori House and corner Jordan Shaw. — Morales How we judge the Gophers wholly depends on what happens at quarterback. After striking gold last year with New Hampshire grad transfer Max Brosmer, Minnesota will need a similar impact from Georgia Tech transfer Zach Pyron. However, Pyron is far less experienced than Brosmer was, throwing just 65 passes last season. Minnesota's other portal additions and subtractions represent a clear step forward from last year: Only two players left for power-conference programs, and the Gophers landed some solid additions. UCLA receiver Logan Loya (29 catches, 348 yards) and Marshall running back A.J. Turner (864 rushing yards) should make immediate impacts, as should Oklahoma State linebacker Jeff Roberson (58 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, three sacks). FCS transfers Steven Curtis and Rushawn Lawrence should bolster the Gophers' defensive line. — Dochterman The Terrapins lost their starting quarterback, backup quarterback, leading rusher and No. 3 receiver. That's rough. Maryland does have four-star freshman quarterback Malik Washington coming in, but it's a lot to ask a true freshman to step in immediately. The alternative is UCLA transfer Justyn Martin, who is fairly inexperienced as well. The Terrapins added some intriguing transfers such as Georgia State tight end Dorian Fleming and Oklahoma receiver Jalil Farooq, but they placed a lot of bets on players from the FCS and Group of 5. Time will tell how well those will work out. — Morales Losing running back TJ Harden and receivers Sturdivant and Logan Loya were serious blows for the Bruins in the skill position department. Those departures haven't put up overwhelming stats, but that's more a reflection of UCLA's scheme on offense the past two years than their skills. The Bruins did well landing productive App State quarterback transfer Joey Aguilar and his teammate, receiver Kaedin Robinson. Oregon State linebacker Isaiah Chisom has the potential to be a solid addition as well. — Morales Advertisement Kentucky defensive lineman Keeshawn Silver, San Jose State corner DJ Harvey and New Mexico running back Eli Sanders, who rushed for 1,000 yards last season, should fill important holes on Lincoln Riley's roster. But the talent brought in would be hard-pressed to match the impact of the talent that has left this offseason. Losing Pregnon to Oregon hurts an offensive line that was already losing two other starters. Quinten Joyner (now at Texas Tech) had the potential to be the No. 1 back. And while Zachariah Branch and Duce Robinson weren't elite players, their departures (along with Hudson's for Penn State) left USC without much proven depth at receiver. The Trojans have also bypassed the QB position in the portal, even though Jayden Maiava was wildly inconsistent in his four starts. — Morales GO DEEPER ACC offseason recap: Who's rising and falling after the winter portal window? The Badgers enter year three under Luke Fickell with more questions than answers. For the third straight season, Wisconsin is starting over at quarterback with Maryland's Billy Edwards (2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns) and San Diego State's Danny O'Neil (2,181 yards, 12 touchdowns) battling to replace Braedyn Locke (now at Arizona) and Tyler Van Dyke (SMU). The receiving corps is in shambles with Will Pauling and C.J. Williams leaving for Notre Dame and Stanford, respectively. Then there's the ongoing saga of talented cornerback Xavier Lucas enrolling at Miami as Wisconsin brass accuses the ACC school of tampering. But Wisconsin is taking some encouraging chances on several small-school players who earned their way to a power-conference program. Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol caught 94 passes for 839 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Western Michigan defensive tackle Corey Walker, Bethel safety Matt Jung and Idaho wide receiver Mark Hamper all should make an impact. But six months before fall camp, there's more uncertainty than conviction surrounding the Badgers' prospects. — Dochterman Traditionally a low-attrition program, the Wildcats didn't experience much turnover, but the players they lost were significant. Oregon plucked cornerback Theran Johnson, and LSU signed tackle Josh Thompson, creating more holes than Northwestern has filled so far in the portal. But with the university's rigid academic standards, the football program usually is more active during the spring portal than the winter window. Northwestern did make a few positive additions, starting with former SMU quarterback Preston Stone and Purdue edge rusher Yanni Karlaftis, the brother of Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis. Offensive coordinator Zach Lujan helped land South Dakota State receiver Griffin Wilde (70 catches, 1,147 yards, 12 touchdowns), whom he coached with the Jackrabbits before joining David Braun's staff last season. — Dochterman Advertisement If it's possible for Purdue to start in a worse position than where it ended last season, that's where the program stands under new coach Barry Odom. Despite their 1-11 record, the Boilermakers had talent last fall, but they were decimated in the portal for the second consecutive offseason. Tight end Max Klare (Ohio State), safety Dillon Thieneman (Oregon), defensive linemen Cole Brevard (Texas), Damarjhe Lewis (SMU) and Jeffrey M'ba (SMU), and cornerbacks Kyndrich Breedlove and Nyland Green (both Arizona State) landed with CFP teams. Odom brought in three quarterbacks who either played sparingly or recorded no statistics as freshmen last year: Malachi Singleton (Arkansas), E.J. Colson (UCF) and Evans Chuba (Washington State). Seven UNLV players, including second-team All-MWC tackle Jalen St. John, followed Odom from Las Vegas. First-team All-MAC defensive lineman C.J. Nunnally (Akron) is a solid pickup after 11 tackles for loss and six sacks. But it's farfetched to think Purdue can approach in-state rival Indiana's first-year success under Cignetti. The Boilers didn't pick up anywhere near that many players capable of making that type of impact. — Dochterman
