Latest news with #WeekZero
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners among ESPN's biggest offseason winners
Oklahoma Sooners among ESPN's biggest offseason winners The "quieter" portion of the college football offseason is upon us, as the majority of the dust has settled from spring football practice and the transfer portal window. We're less than three-and-a-half months away from Week Zero, which is on August 23. The Oklahoma Sooners will begin their 2025 season in Week One on August 30 against FCS Illinois State. ESPN and staff writers Eli Lederman, Max Olson, and Adam Rittenberg took the opportunity to rank the offseason for every single Power Four conference team. The trio stacked all 68 teams that reside in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 (plus FBS Independent Notre Dame). In the new era of college football, it's paramount to win in the offseason with the changes that are inevitable every year. That sets you up for wins on the field in the fall. ESPN is high on OU's offseason, ranking it as the SEC's second-best offseason, behind only the LSU Tigers (their top overall team). The hire of a new offensive coordinator and the addition of a new starting quarterback in Norman is a big reason why. Entering a pivotal year, head coach Brent Venables made a major offensive coordinator hire in Ben Arbuckle, who brought quarterback John Mateer with him from Washington State. Arbuckle coached Cam Ward and Mateer in Pullman, and he should immediately boost a Sooners offense that finished 97th nationally in scoring last season. - ESPN. The Arbuckle-Mateer combination has their work cut out for them after OU's offense was dreadful a season ago. Venables cannot afford to have an incompetent offense again like the one he had last year. Injuries and inexperience played a huge role in what went wrong for the Sooners last offseason. They can't control all of the injuries, but the Sooners were able to add a lot of experience and production in the portal. Almost nothing went right for the Sooners in 2024 across a disastrous SEC debut that resulted in the program's second losing season since 1998 and turned up the heat on Venables' seat. That prompted the offensive overhaul. Past Mateer, Jaydn Ott, Florida State edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr. and Kendal Daniels marked Oklahoma's flashiest bits of portal business. But questions remain over whether the Sooners did enough to bolster the wide receiver and offensive line units that cratered their season a year ago. - ESPN. It's understandable that there would be concerns about the offensive line and at wide receiver. The Sooners brought in two Power Four receivers in Isaiah Sategna and Josiah Martin, but they'll also be relying on guys who spent 2024 at the FCS level. Along the offensive line, Derek Simmons represents the biggest offensive line piece aside from true freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje. Simmons was a highly regarded addition out of Western Carolina who performed well in games against SEC competition over the last two seasons. Oklahoma also added Luke Baklenko and Jake Maikkula from Stanford this offseason to shore up any depth concerns. Going 6-7 at the University of Oklahoma isn't satisfactory by a long shot. Venables and OU have made sweeping changes to make that happen. The additions through the transfer portal have Oklahoma set up to make a big leap in their win total in 2025. Despite lingering questions at multiple spots on the roster, ESPN believes that upgrading at quarterback can cover up some holes when the Sooners have the football. But that's not the only place the Sooners got better. Adding Jaydn Ott to the running back room gives Arbuckle a big play threat out of the backfield. Oklahoma got its quarterback situation sorted when it swapped Jackson Arnold (Auburn) for Mateer, who accounted for 3,319 passing yards and 44 total touchdowns last fall. The fourth-year passer provides the Sooners with dual-threat playmaking ability, but also a certain confidence Oklahoma sorely lacked in 2024. If he can stay healthy, Ott, who rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 scores in 2023, is another new weapon for Arbuckle's offense. And the Sooners added plenty of new options in the passing game with JaVonnie Gibson (UAPB) and Isaiah Sategna (Arkansas) among four new wide receivers joining returners Deion Burks and Jayden Gibson. - ESPN. Bill Connelly, also of ESPN, chimed in with even bolder praise for the Sooners and the work they've done this offseason to try and turn things around in Norman. No one needed a good offseason more desperately than Venables, but he probably put together the best offseason in college football. We'll see if it translates to wins against another brutal schedule, but Arbuckle, Mateer & Co. should produce a solid turnaround in the points department. Offseason national champions. - Connelly, ESPN Anytime you can add a quarterback who has accounted for nearly 4,000 total yards and 40 touchdowns, as OU did with John Mateer, it can change the trajectory of your program. On the hot seat now, Venables has a chance to coach himself off the hot seat with a big season in 2025. Mateer is the playmaker and the leader this team needs. Lederman, Olson, and Rittenberg weren't quite that high on Oklahoma's offseason but still placed it sixth out of all 68 Power Four teams. While much of what happened will have a direct impact on the 2025 season alone, the addition of Jim Nagy at general manager has short and long-term implications for the Oklahoma Sooners. OU needed a big offseason after a disappointing 2024 and delivered. An embattled offense landed the Pullman package deal of offensive coordinator Arbuckle and quarterback Mateer from Washington State. OU added help around Mateer with running back Ott and others. The team also has a clear personnel direction with general manager Jim Nagy, the former Senior Bowl executive director. - ESPN. Nagy's already made his presence felt in the portal and on the recruiting trail, helping the Sooners land Ott, Maikkula, and wide receiver Jer'Michael Carter in the spring portal window. Only LSU, Texas Tech, Penn State, Oregon, and Clemson were said to have better offseasons than Oklahoma. The Sooners also ranked one spot ahead of the Auburn Tigers, who will be their opponent to open conference play on September 20th in Norman. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Tom's Guide
12-05-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Fox One streaming service just announced — here's when it's launching and what's included
Fox will be releasing its own steaming service, dubbed Fox One, and it should debut in time before the start of the NFL season kicks offs in September. Fox owns a multitude of channels, and Fox One will be a hub for all those services including Fox Sports, Fox news programing and its TV shows. "FOX One is designed to reach outside of the pay-TV bundle and deliver all the best FOX branded content directly to viewers wherever they are," the CEO of Fox One, Pete Distad said in a press release. In a Variety report, CEO Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch said Fox One would be "'holistic of all of our content, sports and news" that is needed to reach "a large population outside the cable bundle." Fox hasn't listed everything that will be available on Fox One but here's a list of channels that will have content on the streamer: The big draw for most people who pick up the service will be all of the sports channels, especially since Fox offers a lot of NFL games and the Big Ten NCAA conference, which stretches from coast to coast now. Fox Sports also broadcasts some MLB games and LIV Golf events. Between this new service and the recently announced update to the ESPN streamer from Disney, it's clear that this a fallout from demise of Venu Sports, which was supposed to combine sports offerings from Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. That plan was scuttled in January. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. As for Fox One's price, there is still no information about the potential monthly cost for Fox One. In February, Murdoch said that it would be "modest" and that Fox would "price the service accordingly." Today, in the Variety report, he said that Fox has "modest" expectations for the service and that the cost will be "relatively low." Disney hasn't announced pricing for the updated ESPN yet, but for comparison DirectTV's MySports starts at $69 a month. YouTubeTV, which airs Fox Sports and other sports channels with its multiview option, will run you $82 a month, and that's before adding on packages for the MLB or NFL. Anything lower than those prices would be a boon, though you'd be locked to Fox's offerings. The Fox announcement did not give a specific launch date but did say that it is "on track" to launch before the NFL and College football seasons. The NFL kicks off on September 4 this year, while "Week Zero" starts on August 23 for college football. So, we expect Fox One will likely launch in early or mid-August.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU football could gain from NCAA schedule expansion
College Sports HBCU football could gain from NCAA schedule expansion A major shift could be on the horizon for HBCU football programs at the NCAA FCS Division I level. The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Oversight Committee is recommending a change that would allow all FCS teams-including those in the MEAC and SWAC-to schedule 12 regular-season games every year beginning in 2026. Under current rules, teams are limited to 12 games only when the calendar includes 14 Saturdays between the end of August and late November, which hasn't been an issue recently-each season from 2015 through 2030 meets that condition. For HBCU football programs, this rule change could have immediate and long-term implications. The ability to schedule a 12th game each year opens more chances to secure guarantee games against FBS opponents, add showcase matchups, and maintain traditions that define the cultural fabric of HBCU football. However, the way this rule would impact each conference varies. The MEAC, which has a smaller number of football-playing members, typically operates with a lighter conference schedule, often leaving room for four or five non-conference games even under the current 11-game model. This flexibility has allowed programs like North Carolina Central and Howard to pursue national exposure through matchups against FBS schools or Ivy League opponents as well as games against historic rivals outside of the conference. A 12th game would offer even more space to explore additional rivalries, classics, or revenue opportunities-without disrupting conference standings or postseason plans. In contrast, the SWAC's structure presents a tighter scheduling situation. With two divisions and eight required conference games, plus a potential ninth game for the conference championship, many SWAC schools are already working within a packed calendar. Teams like Jackson State, Southern, and Grambling State often face difficult choices in trying to preserve traditional games like the Orange Blossom Classic or the Bayou Classic. The addition of a 12th regular-season slot could relieve that pressure, allowing schools to retain those marquee events while still fulfilling conference commitments and exploring high-value non-conference matchups. Alabama State quarterback Dematrius Davis eludes a Howard University defender in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. (082722) Steven J. Gaither The proposal would also bring an end to the use of Week Zero games by standardizing the start date of the FCS season. Under current rules, some programs have used legislated exceptions to play early-season games on the Saturday before Labor Day weekend. Starting in 2026, all FCS teams would instead begin competition on the Thursday 13 weeks before the FCS playoff bracket is released. This effectively eliminates Week 0 games, removing an exposure window. While this levels the calendar across the board, it also limits early visibility for programs that previously used that stage to launch their seasons. Coaches and players would also feel the effect. A longer schedule requires careful roster management, especially for programs working with limited depth. But it also provides more opportunities for players to showcase their talent, particularly in high-profile games that draw the attention of NFL scouts and media outlets. For athletic departments, this change means earlier planning around housing, travel, and academic support as the calendar expands. The next steps are critical. The recommendation will be presented to the NCAA Division I Council on May 15, with a final decision scheduled for June 24–25. If approved, the new 12-game schedule will go into effect beginning with the 2026 season. For HBCU football programs in the MEAC and SWAC, the proposed rule opens the door to expanded strategy, tradition preservation, and national visibility-all while reinforcing the cultural and financial importance of the HBCU football calendar. The post HBCU football could gain from NCAA schedule expansion appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025 This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 1:50 PM.
New York Post
05-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Delta is adding new routes to these college towns just in time for football season
Touchdown for kick-off! Delta is adding extra flights for college football season this fall. More than 40 flights will be added to the schedule to help fans get to 25 cities to fill stadiums across the country. Advertisement The flights will be added to the schedule to help fans get to 25 cities to fill stadiums across the the largest-ever college football flying schedule the airline has ever released. 'College football is one of the great American traditions, and Delta is excited to help bring even more fans to the games that matter to them the most,' Amy Martin, Vice President of North America Network Planning, said in a statement. Advertisement 'With these increases Delta is adding about 8,000 additional seats for customers, making it easier and more convenient for fans to be there for every kickoff, touchdown and victory.' The full list of added flights can be found here. These extra flights will help fans to get in their seats to watch some of the season's most-anticipated matchups, including LSU at Clemson, Texas at Ohio State and several Notre Dame games. These extra flights will help fans to get in their seats to watch some of the season's most-anticipated matchups, including LSU at Clemson, Texas at Ohio State and several Notre Dame games. Getty Images Advertisement College football season kicks off on Saturday, August 23, with 'Week Zero.' Most teams will begin their regular season the following week, Saturday, August 30. The regular season is set to end Saturday, December 13. Most flights will take off on Friday and return on Sunday to allow fans to celebrate all weekend long.
Boston Globe
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
UNC hired Bill Belichick to boost its football profile. A game in Ireland marks a return on that bet.
'This game is just another example of the kind of profile, the kind of opportunities that we're hoping to have through our investment in the football program,' chancellor Lee Roberts said at a campus news conference, the day after the game was announced. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up More specifically, the investment Roberts cited is on Belichick, who turned 73 last week. Advertisement UNC hired him in December while committing to more spending on coaches and staff positions, notably with Belichick due to make $10 million for each of the next three seasons in guaranteed base and supplemental salary alone. The hope is that Belichick builds a winner in football — the revenue-driver when it comes to college sports and TV deals — at a school best known for its blueblood men's basketball program. Belichick's arrival has, at the least, elevated the Tar Heels' football profile. That's partly due to his success at the sport's highest level. But it's also based on the curiosity of seeing him toil through the chaotically changing landscape of college athletics, where rosters can turn over seemingly overnight with players constantly on the move through the transfer portal compared to a more structured and contract-driven stability that comes in the NFL. Advertisement His first game comes against TCU at home on Labor Day in a college version of Monday Night Football. Now the return game in what was to be a home-and-home series is headed to Dublin for August 2026, potentially a well-timed showcase event as the Atlantic Coast Conference moves to a revised revenue-distribution model with schools earning more money for generating higher TV ratings. Consider: Georgia Tech's win against Florida State in Dublin last August marked the most-watched 'Week Zero' game since 2019 and top college-football draw on cable all season. 'I do think the success the program has had, the hiring of Coach Belichick, the timing of it's perfect,' athletic director Bubba Cunningham said, noting the Tar Heels had sold out their season tickets for this fall. 'The schedule for TCU worked out well for them that they were willing to move a home game. So it just came together at this time.' As for Belichick, he coached the Patriots four times overseas in NFL regular-season play, according to Sportradar. They won games in London in 2009 (against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and 2012 (against the then-St. Louis Rams), as well as one in Mexico City in 2017 (against the then-Oakland Raiders). Belichick's Pats lost to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany in 2023, his final season with the franchise. Advertisement Back in 2023, Bill Belichick led his Patriots into Frankfurt, Germany, where New England lost to Indianapolis. Michael Probst/Associated Press 'Those games stand out, so specially to me, that there just wasn't another one like the one in Mexico or two we had in London,' Belichick said. 'It's not like playing in the other stadiums that we play in. I don't think you put a price tag on it, but it's great to be a part of. And you remember the things that you did in those places with your teammates or the other people that were on the trip. And I think always kind of bonds you a little bit tighter with the people you experienced them with.' That includes practicing in a cricket stadium during the Patriots' first London trip or that Hyde Park workout in October 2012, down to Belichick recalling putting cones in the grass for 'one of probably the most interesting practices we've ever had.' He smiled at the memory, along maybe with the thought of what could lay ahead in Dublin. 'It'll be great,' Belichick said of the high-visibility game, 'and everybody will be watching.'
