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USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
College Football Playoff seeding model is changing to reward top teams in rankings
College Football Playoff seeding model is changing to reward top teams in rankings Show Caption Hide Caption US LBM Coaches Poll: Ohio State claims top spot after national title run See where your team landed in the final US LBM Coaches Poll ranking of the year. Sports Pulse The College Football Playoff will convert beginning this coming year to a straight-seeding model that ranks all 12 teams in order of the final playoff rankings of the regular season, the group's management committee announced on Thursday. The new policy will no longer include an opening-round bye for the four highest-ranked conference champions, though the five top conference winners will still receive automatic playoff bids. Instead, the four highest-ranked teams regardless of conference championships won will receive that bye into the quarterfinals. In the case that one or more of the five top-ranked conference champions rank outside the top 12 of the final playoff rankings, that team or those teams will move into the top 12 and displace any non-conference winners. The updated seeding policy comes amid a continued push from several Power Four leagues to widen the tournament field to 14 or 16 teams, with multiple automatic bids given to the best teams in the SEC and the Big Ten. The management committee is composed of the 10 Bowl Subdivision conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletics director Pete Bevacqua. 'After evaluating the first year of the 12-team Playoff, the CFP Management Committee felt it was in the best interest of the game to make this adjustment,' said playoff executive director Rich Clark. 'This change will continue to allow guaranteed access to the Playoff by rewarding teams for winning their conference championship, but it will also allow us to construct a postseason bracket that recognizes the best performance on the field during the entire regular season.' The debut of the 12-team playoff saw Boise State from the Group of Five land one of the four byes, displacing ACC winner Clemson. Eventual national champion Ohio State earned an at-large bid, as did runner-up Notre Dame as an FBS independent. They were seeded eighth and seventh, respectively. All other policies will remain the same from last season, the playoff said. That includes opening-round games between teams ranked between No. 5 and No. 12 being played at the home venue of the higher-ranked team. This year's quarterfinals are to be held in the Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The semifinals will be in the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl and the championship game is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas leads college football NCAA Re-Rank 1-136 after spring practice
Texas leads college football NCAA Re-Rank 1-136 after spring practice Show Caption Hide Caption US LBM Coaches Poll: Ohio State claims top spot after national title run See where your team landed in the final US LBM Coaches Poll ranking of the year. Sports Pulse Texas is No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports springtime college football re-rank as the hype continues to build around the Longhorns and new starting quarterback Arch Manning. After back-to-back College Football Playoff berths, including a trip to last year's national semifinals, Texas is poised to take the next step and capture the program's first championship since 2005. Rounding out the top six are Clemson, Penn State, Georgia, Notre Dame and Ohio State. The Buckeyes have to rebuild on both lines while settling the ongoing quarterback competition between Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin. This group is followed by No. 7 LSU, No. 8 Oregon, No. 9 Miami, No. 10 Alabama, No. 11 Illinois and No. 12 Tennessee. The Illini are poised to make a playoff run with one of the most experienced rosters in the country. COACHES RANKINGS: SEC | Big Ten | Big 12 | ACC LOOKING AHEAD: Big Ten leads too-early Top 25 after spring As expected, the Top 25 is dominated by the Big Ten and the SEC. The two power conferences combine for 11 of the top 15 teams and 13 of the top 21. Teams predicted to rise in this year's re-rank are No. 17 TCU, No. 18 Nebraska, No. 22 Texas Tech, No. 25 Oklahoma and No. 35 Auburn. Farther down the re-rank, look for No. 50 Florida State to rebound after a miserable 2024 and teams such as No. 45 Kansas and No. 59 UCLA to reach the postseason after coming up one win shy last season. One thing hasn't changed since the end of last year: Kent State continues to sit last in the Bowl Subdivision. The Golden Flashes went winless last season and recently made a coaching change, dismissing Kenni Burns and promoting offensive coordinator Mark Carney on an interim basis for the 2025 season. But Kent State now sits at No. 136 with the addition of two newcomers to the FBS. Delaware and Missouri State will join Conference USA this season but not be eligible for the conference championship or the postseason while transitioning from the Championship Subdivision.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Big 12 college football coaches rankings blend youth and age, led by Kenny Dillingham
Big 12 college football coaches rankings blend youth and age, led by Kenny Dillingham Show Caption Hide Caption US LBM Coaches Poll: Ohio State claims top spot after national title run See where your team landed in the final US LBM Coaches Poll ranking of the year. Sports Pulse Life in the Big 12 isn't for the weak. If there's any conference that's the most chaotic, it's certainly the Big 12. Every year, it seems like there's surprises, teams that come from out of nowhere to contend while those expected to be good fall flat. That makes it tough to coach in the league, where the window of success can close rather quickly. Still, there are some that have shown they can stay afloat. The Big 12 has coaches of all experience levels; those that are entering year 20 on the job and others that are still in the early stages of building their programs. The pecking order of coaches in the league reflect that, as you'll see some veteran coaches have built continued success, while new ones have quickly found their footing and could be heading toward successful tenures. In a league that seems to always be shifting in who's in the hunt, here's a breakdown of the the 16 head coaches in the Big 12: 1. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State This may be a case of recency bias, but Dillingham has orchestrated one of the great turnarounds in college football. Returning to his alma mater, he inherited a team reeling from the Herm Edwards era, and it showed with a 3-9 debut season. But after Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12 in 2024, it won the conference and made the College Football Playoff. Dillingham has brought fire back to the Sun Devils and at just 34-years-old, he's setting the path for a long, successful career. 2. Kalani Sitake, Brigham Young Sitake took over his alma mater when it was navigating its path as an independent. He was able to raise BYU's profile with a pair of double-digit win seasons prior to joining the Big 12 for the 2023 season. After a uneventful debut, the Cougars went 11-2 last season and were just a few plays from being in the College Football Playoff. BYU is back to maintaining winning as it has seven bowl appearances in Sitake's nine seasons, and he's an impressive 45-18 since 2020. LOOKING AHEAD: Big Ten leads too-early Top 25 after spring practice COACHES RANKINGS: Two clear favorites in SEC | Ryan Day leads Big Ten 3. Matt Campbell, Iowa State Think about where Iowa State was when it hired Campbell; it was coming off three consecutive seasons with at least nine losses. Since then, Campbell has turned the Cyclones from an afterthought to a team consistently punching above its weight. After nine seasons, he's the winningest coach in school history with 64 wins, and last season, achieved the team's first 11-win campaign. Campbell could have gone to program's with more funding and resources, but he's opted to stay and build a strong foundation at Iowa State. 4. Chris Klieman, Kansas State All Klieman knows is success. He's had winning seasons every year but one since he started at North Dakota State in 2014, including a 48-28 record in six seasons at Kansas State. The Wildcats are consistently in the conference title picture and won the league in 2022. Last season was considered a down year, and Kansas State still won nine games for the third season in row. Expect the Wildcats to continue to be contenders under Klieman's watch. 5. Deion Sanders, Colorado After bringing prime time to Colorado, Sanders finally delivered with success with nine wins last season - the school's most since 2016 - and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Now the question is whether can Sanders can sustain success without his son, Shedeur, and Hunter. The allure of playing for Sanders is strong, giving the Buffaloes a chance to continue their with more positive results. 6. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech Texas Tech has become a winning program in Big 12 play since McGuire took over the program, and he's shown glimpses of success with three consecutive seasons of at least seven wins. Now the real challenge is whether McGuire can get the Red Raiders over the hump to contend for their first conference title. He's been able to attract top transfers, so now is the time to match the potential. 7. Kyle Whittingham, Utah Whittingham has turned Utah into a perennial power backed by a tough defense. The Utes were picked to win the Big 12 in the 2024 preseason poll before offensive struggles resulted in a 5-7 finish - Whittingham's worst record since 2013. The veteran coach has hinted his retirement could be coming soon, so he could be trying to find one solid season to be his swan song to ensure the program is headed in the right direction. 8. Sonny Dykes, TCU Following the team's College Football Playoff run in 2022, TCU struggled to build on them momentum and won just five games in 2023. However, Dykes got TCU back on the right track with a 9-4 mark last year. Dykes has won at least seven games in five of his last six seasons, going back to his time at SMU. Dykes and Dillingham are the only coaches in the conference to make the College Football Playoff, and one could argue Dykes' run is the most impressive given he did it in the four-team playoff. 9. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State With the track record Gundy has at Oklahoma State − eight 10+ win seasons − he should be up higher on this list. However, last season was awful for the Cowboys, it's created doubt about his future. Oklahoma State entered 2024 with its sights on the College Football Playoff, but failed to win a Big 12 game and finished 3-9, the worst record in the Gundy-era. Now the pressure is on to get back to rebound with the Cowboys seemingly poised to be one of the teams to benefit from the departure of Oklahoma and Texas from the league. 10. Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia West Virginia hopes bringing back Rodriguez could revive the success the program had in the 2000s when it was playing in the BCS bowl games. Rodriguez revitalized his career by guiding Jacksonville State into the Bowl Subdivision success, capturing the Conference USA title in 2024. Now in a Power Four conference again, Rodriguez has to prove he can win at the level again after disappointing tenures at Michigan and Arizona. 11. Dave Aranda, Baylor There was concern for Aranda's job security after the 2021 Big 12 title got overshadowed by the horrid 2023 season when Baylor went 3-9. But Aranda went back to calling the defense and hired Jake Spavital to man the offense and it paved the way for an 8-5 season that included six wins in the final seven games. Now the key for Aranda is to maintain success. He has yet to finish over .500 in back-to-back seasons in Waco. 12. Lance Leipold, Kansas Give Leipold credit for giving Kansas football life when it hadn't existed in some time. He was able to generate enough investment with a stadium renovation after the Jayhawks won nine games in 2023. There was hype coming in 2024, but quickly ended with a 2-6 start to the season. However, Kansas showed glimpses of promise with a 3-1 finish to the season, including three consecutive wins over ranked opponents. With quarterback Jalon Daniels back, Leipold has a great chance to get Kansas back into a bowl game and revive the hype. 13. Willie Fritz, Houston There wasn't much for Fritz to work with in his first season at Houston as the Cougars went 4-8, but there were positive signs that should carry over to the upcoming season. Fritz has a track record of turning teams around − especially at Tulane − so a step in the right direction could be on the horizon for a team that's 5-13 conference play since joining the Big 12. 14. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati It appeared Satterfield had things going in the right direction with the Bearcats starting last 5-2 before five losses to end the season. The Satterfield era has been mostly unimpressive with an 8-16 record in two seasons and he hasn't been able to capture the same success he had at Appalachian State with a 33-40 mark going back to his Louisville days. A bowl game is at least needed to assure Satterfield some job security. 15. Brent Brennan, Arizona Brennan inherited an Arizona team that won 10 games in 2023 and retained quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The Wildcats were expected to contend for a Big 12 title, but instead lost seven of their last eight games to finish 4-8. Fumbling the keys to what was a good situation has hurt Brennan's position with the fanbase and starts the season on the hot seat. 16. Scott Frost, Central Florida Can Frost recapture magic in Orlando? Frost led UCF to its dream perfect season in 2017 before he had a failed stint at Nebraska, ending his tenure in Lincoln with a 16-31 record in four-plus seasons. Now back at the school he led to a 14-0 season eight years ago, Frost takes over a team that's struggled in the Big 12 with a 5-13 conference record the past two seasons.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Big Ten leads too-early college football Top 25 rankings after spring practice
Big Ten leads too-early college football Top 25 rankings after spring practice Show Caption Hide Caption US LBM Coaches Poll: Ohio State claims top spot after national title run See where your team landed in the final US LBM Coaches Poll ranking of the year. Sports Pulse Much has changed since we unveiled our way-too-early college football Top 25 in the hours after Ohio State beat Notre Dame to take home the national championship. One of the biggest stories of the offseason has been former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava's abrupt departure for the transfer portal. After leading his team to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman, Iamaleava has decamped for UCLA and caused the Volunteers to drop from No. 9 in our January rankings to No. 14 in our post-spring update. Another team falling out of the rankings is Boise State, the reigning Mountain West champions and debut Group of Five entrant in the expanded playoff bracket. In addition to losing star running back Ashton Jeanty, the Broncos have seen several key contributors enter the transfer portal, including all-conference defensive tackle Braxton Fely and former All-America punter James Ferguson-Reynolds. But there's no change at the top. Ohio State remains No. 1 in our reworked rankings despite some question marks at quarterback, followed by Penn State, Texas, Georgia and Clemson. Below is our post-spring Top 25, once again heavily slanted toward the Big Ten and SEC. Rankings from January in parenthesis: 1. Ohio State (2024 record: 14-2) (1) The Buckeyes are ready to reload and make another run at the national title. First, though, Ryan Day must decide on a starting QB between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz. Sayin was the favorite to claim the job this spring but was unable to put Kienholz away; the competition will continue this summer. The winner will throw to what again will be an elite WR room. The defense will need to be almost completely rebuilt, which is a definite concern. But there are building blocks on every level and one of the nation's best overall players in DB Caleb Downs. The opener at home against Texas will be one of the biggest games of the year. 2. Penn State (13-3) (4) In QB Drew Allar and RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, three linchpins of the Nittany Lions' offense are set to return. While Penn State will lose star TE Tyler Warren, help is on the way at receiver in transfers Kyron Hudson (Southern California) and Devonte Ross (Troy). Defensively, the Nittany Lions lose edge rusher Abdul Carter but return senior Dani Dennis-Sutton, a likely preseason All-America pick. The expectations are that Penn State will again be right near the top of the Big Ten. 3. Texas (13-3) (2) The Arch Manning era begins in Austin. Expectations will be unrealistic, and the reality is that Manning has limited game experience against SEC competition. Complicating matters are some unsettled situations at receiver and on the offensive and defensive lines. But this is a team full of talent compiled through strong recruiting classes and targeted transfers. Look for Ryan Wingo to emerge as Manning's top target and for the defense to be led by LB Anthony Hill and DL Colin Simmons. 4. Georgia (11-3) (5) After a slightly surprising step back last season, the Bulldogs look set to rebound behind new quarterback Gunner Stockton. To help out, Georgia added Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and Zachariah Branch (Southern California) to boost the receiving room. The defense, per usual, lost significant players to the NFL but will reload behind LB CJ Allen, DB Daylen Everette and new EDGE Elo Modozie (Army). 5. Clemson (10-4) (7) QB Cade Klubnik and the defending ACC champions will be expected to repeat in 2025 and go deeper into the playoff. The offense could have issues at RB after projected starter Jay Haynes tore his ACL in the ACC title game, though freshmen David Eziomume and Gideon Davidson looked good in the spring. Defensively, expect Clemson to rebound under new coordinator Tom Allen after falling to ninth in the ACC in yards allowed per play this past season. The pieces are in place for a run at the national tile. 6. LSU (9-4) (6) This feels like a make-or-break year for Brian Kelly. The return of Garrett Nussmeier gives the Tigers one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Kelly then went to the transfer portal to add Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barrion Brown (Kentucky) at wide receiver. LSU also made some key additions on the offensive line. The gem on defense is pass rusher Patrick Payton (Florida State), but there is also help coming in the secondary. 7. Notre Dame (14-2) (8) The Irish have clearly arrived under Marcus Freeman. Redshirt freshman QB CJ Carr is poised to replace Riley Leonard after former backup Steve Angeli entered the transfer portal. Carr will be eased into the role by playing in front of top RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The offensive line will benefit from the injuries that caused some in-season shakeups last season and will build around a young core set to ascend into major roles. The schedule is once again pretty friendly, with road games against Miami and Arkansas but Texas A&M, Boise State and Southern California at home. 8. Oregon (13-1) (11) The defending Big Ten champs will turn to UCLA transfer Dante Moore as the team's new quarterback. Moore served as Dillon Gabriel's understudy last season. The offense will benefit from major transfers such as RB Makhi Hughes (Tulane) and OTs Isaiah World (Nevada) and Alex Harkey (Texas State). Oregon's defense added another playmaker into the secondary in Dillon Thieneman (Purdue) but has new pieces to insert on the DL, including transfer Bear Alexander (Southern California) and rising junior A'Mauri Washington. 9. Alabama (9-4) (3) Kalen DeBoer is under pressure after an inaugural season with four losses and the departure of quarterback Jalen Milroe. Ty Simpson is the expected replacement under center, and the skill positions look to be well-stocked with WR Ryan Williams likely to have even more impact in his sophomore season. Alabama will have a strong defense that has depth in the front seven and key returners in the secondary. While there's plenty of talent, there's still a lot of uncertainty about the state of the program compared to the Tide's biggest SEC rivals. 10. Miami (10-3) (16) There's a lot that hinges on the availability of Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck, who was injured in the SEC title game and may not be able to throw until after spring ball. On paper, though, Miami's talent level will have it ready to rival Clemson in the ACC if Beck is healthy. The strong points are a terrific OL, a deep stable of RBs and a reworked defensive backfield. But the Hurricanes need to identify production at WR and have to get the most out of a young DL. 11. Florida (8-5) (12) There's going to be big expectations around the Gators after their strong finish to 2024. Can that momentum carry over? There are enough pieces to push for a place among the upper third of the league should QB DJ Lagway be healthy and make the expected jump in his sophomore season. RB Jadan Baugh will carry the running game. The defense also made major strides in the second half of last season and will be led by linemen Tyreak Sapp and Caleb Banks. 12. Kansas State (9-4) (15) We're going to roll the dice on QB Avery Johnson taking a big step in his second season as the starter after some highs and low last season. More consistency from him should make the offense better with RB Dylan Edwards ready to take a lead role in the ground attack and Jayce Brown one of the top receivers in the Big 12. LB Austin Romaine and DB VJ Payne, the team's top two tacklers, return for a defense that should get back to a level good enough to compete for and win the conference championship. 13. Illinois (10-3) (13) Eighteen returning starters from a 10-win squad will make this season one of the program's most anticipated in years. Whether Illinois contends for the playoff may come down to whether it can rebuild at WR without this season's top two targets and find new starters to replace three seniors on the DL. With QB Luke Altmyer back to lead the offense, an experienced OL, all-conference LBs and a very strong secondary, Illinois is going to be a very tough out in a very tough Big Ten. 14. Tennessee (10-3) (9) Tennessee has already found Iamaleava's replacement in former Appalachian State and UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, who joins redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre in the quarterback room. The Volunteers will need reinforcements at running back, receiver and offensive line to support the new starter but should be stingy on defense with LBs Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander returning and DB Jermad McCoy potentially recovered from an offseason knee injury in time for the season opener. 15. Michigan (8-5) (18) If the final weeks of last season are to be believed, Michigan is poised to reclaim a place among the top teams in the Big Ten. One reason for optimism is the clear upgrade at QB, whether it's Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene or five-star freshman Bryce Underwood under center. But Underwood may need more time after making incremental progress as an early enrollee playing in spring drills. The Wolverines should be very strong on both lines even as the defense loses a star in tackle Mason Graham. 16. South Carolina (9-4) (14) The Gamecocks may have been one of the best team in the Power Four at the end of last season, so pushing for the playoff in 2025 seems like a realistic goal. QB LaNorris Sellers showed significant progress in his first year as a starter and should be among the best at his position in the SEC. With significant returns at receiver, the offense should be more balanced and allow Sellers to showcase his throwing ability. The defense had significant losses that will require retooling, but Dylan Stewart should push for double-digit sacks as a sophomore. 17. Brigham Young (11-2) (17) Jake Retzlaff is back for his second full season starting at quarterback and will lead an offense that should be among the best in the Big 12, with quality depth at running back and receiver. The key area to address is the defensive front, which lost several key contributors. But there's enough strength in the back of the unit to help BYU push for double-digit wins again. The Cougars' transfer class is heavy on help on both lines. 18. Louisville (9-4) (25) New QB Miller Moss (Southern California) joins an experienced OL, terrific young RB Isaac Brown and senior WRs Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy for what should be one of the top offenses in the ACC. Louisville will need this offense to carry the load while the defense rounds into form. While the linebacker corps looks solid, an uncertain pass rush and coverage concerns could keep the Cardinals from the ACC title game. 19. Mississippi (10-3) (24) The Rebels' first order of business is the change at quarterback, with Austin Simmons taking over for Jaxson Dart. Simmons flashed against Georgia and brings a different dimension to the offense. RB, WR and the OL line also need rebuilding. The story is the same with the defense. There will be growing pains but time to sort things out with a home schedule that has eight home games. 20. Iowa State (11-3) (20) After putting up a school record for wins last year, the Cyclones are in contention for a playoff berth amid a Big 12 race that should be wide open. QB Rocco Becht will be at the forefront of things, though he loses his top two receivers to the NFL. Adding Chase Sowell (East Carolina) will help but that room needs a reboot to keep the passing game humming. Also, the defense must get better stopping the run after ranking near the bottom of the conference last season in yards allowed per carry and per game. 21. Arizona State (11-3) (10) Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils look to build on last year's surprising success. While RB Cam Skattebo departs, QB Sam Levitt is ready to assume more control on the offense. Getting back WR Jordyn Tyson to full health will be critical after a knee injury ended his season prematurely. The defense has all-conference picks Xavion Alford and C.J. Fife to anchor the unit. The rest of the Big 12 is waiting to see if ASU was a one-year wonder or a program on the verge of something much more substantial. 22. Nebraska (7-6) (22) There's still a talent gap between Nebraska and the best of the Big Ten, but this is a team and program ready for the next step. On offense, QB Dylan Raiola should put up big numbers under offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. The defense has a new coordinator in John Butler and will have to rebuild up front. But the Cornhuskers have a terrific transfer class set to join the defense, including EDGE Dasan McCullough (Oklahoma), LB Marques Watson-Trent (Georgia Southern) and DL Williams Nwaneri (Missouri). 23. UNLV (11-3) (23) UNLV looks to build on a recent surge under new coach Dan Mullen. The Rebels have been very active in the portal, where they've signed maybe the best class in the Group of Five. To get past Boise State and to the top of the Mountain West and reach the playoff, Mullen has to get the most out of Michigan QB transfer Alex Orji and rebuild at WR around several Power Four transfers. The defense played very well down the stretch of 2024 and looks to build on that strong close. 24. TCU (9-4) (NR) TCU has quietly climbed back into the national picture after winning six of seven games to end last season. QB Josh Hoover is ready to take a big step forward in his second year as the starter. The defense returns linebackers Devean Deal and Kaleb Elarms-Orr and DB Jamel Johnson and looks to carry over last year's improvement under second-year DC Andy Avalos. The potential is there for another unexpected playoff run. 25. Oklahoma (6-7) (NR) The program's downward trend under coach Brent Venables makes this a wild-card pick to round out our post-spring rankings. Defensively, Oklahoma should be in good shape after bringing back many of the key pieces behind a unit that ranked seventh in the SEC last season in yards per play. The offense will be sparked by QB transfer John Mateer (Washington State), who might've been the best overall player in the winter portal. But the Sooners need transfer WRs to step up and remake that room while the OL settles on a concrete starting five and stays healthy. Dropped out: SMU, Boise State.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal earned over $8.3 million in 2023, tax records show
Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal earned over $8.3 million in 2023, tax records show Show Caption Hide Caption US LBM Coaches Poll: Ohio State claims top spot after national title run See where your team landed in the final US LBM Coaches Poll ranking of the year. Sports Pulse University of Miami football coach Mario Cristobal was credited with just over $8.3 million in total compensation for the 2023 calendar year, the school's new federal tax returns show. The document, provided by the university late Friday afternoon April 25 in response to a request from USA TODAY Sports, showed that slightly more than $8 million of Cristobal's total was categorized as base compensation and $150,000 as bonus and incentive compensation. This provides the first plain look at Cristobal's pay as Miami's coach. The school's return last year, which covered 2022 calendar-year pay, included amounts connected to the $9 million buyout that Cristobal owed to Oregon for ending his contract with that school. Miami treated that amount as taxable income for Cristobal, but it also paid those taxes. That resulted in Miami reporting Cristobal with $22.7 million in total compensation. Of that amount, a little less than $7.8 million represented as Cristobal's basic pay for 2022, Miami athletics director Dan Radakovich confirmed in an interview with USA TODAY Sports last April. Cristobal's $8 million in base compensation for the 2023 calendar year likely would have made him the 14th-highest paid football coach in the nation, according to USA TODAY's annual pay survey for the 2023 season. For the 2025 season, there are likely 10 football coaches currently set to make at least $10 million in basic annual pay. However, comparing the pay of private-school coaches to that of public-school coaches is difficult because the contracs of private-school employees are not subject to public-records disclosure requirements. Under IRS rules, while non-profit organizations — including college and universities — make most financial disclosures on a fiscal-year basis, they are required to report employee compensation figures on a calendar-year basis, including the value of all bonuses and benefits. They must use the calendar year completed during the given fiscal year. Miami's fiscal year covered by the new return ended May 31, 2024, so the 2023 calendar year is used for compensation reporting. A combination of IRS reporting deadlines and the availability of automatic extensions results in a significant time lag in the disclosure of private schools' pay numbers. Miami's new return also showed the 2023 pay for Radakovich and former Hurricanes men's basketball coach Jim Larranaga. Radakovich was credited with more than $2.4 million in total pay, including just under $2 million in what the school categorized as base compensation, nearly $287,000 in bonus compensation and an unspecified tax gross-up payment. His base amount for 2023 is nearly identical to the one reported for him for 2022. Radakovich's pay likely makes him one of the 10 to 15 highest-paid athletic directors in the nation, according to contracts and tax records obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Larranaga was credited with just over $3.6 million in total pay, including nearly $3.2 million in base compensation and $250,000 in bonus pay. He resigned as Miami's coach in late December 2024.
