Big 12 Notes

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Big 12 Notes – Fall Camp

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August 26th

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West Virginia cancels home-and-home against Alabama

… After a road game against Ohio this fall, West Virginia won’t play another true road non-conference game until 2029 … 

From CBS Sports … The SEC’s announcement that it would be moving to a nine-game conference schedule was always going to bring some non-conference scheduling ramifications, and Tuesday we saw that in action as Alabama and West Virginia announced they mutually agreed to cancel their home-and-home series set for 2026 and 2027.

In Alabama’s release, the team specifically cited the nine-game schedule as the reason for the change, and announced it would be adding a non-conference home game against East Carolina in 2026 to fill the vacant spot left by the loss of the West Virginia game. West Virginia, meanwhile, will add Coastal Carolina to its 2026 schedule and plans to take the open 2027 date and add a seventh home game.

“This scheduling philosophy has proven to be successful across college football. It aligns our football program with its competition in terms of potential postseason opportunities and advancement,” West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker said. “I am also aware of the importance of a seventh home game in 2027 for our fans and the huge economic impact it brings to our state, city and tourism division. Visitors coming to West Virginia are not only critical for state tourism, but also to our local economy.”

“We are proud of the number of high-quality home-and-home non-conference games we have scheduled for the next 10 years,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said. “That being said, we know that college athletics has been evolving and changing rapidly over the last few years, and it made sense for us to make these adjustments on our future schedules. We have a bit more flexibility as we transition to a nine-game format in the Southeastern Conference, and it gives us the opportunity to further evaluate how strength of schedule is evaluated for the College Football Playoff. Between the other home-and-homes as well as conference games, we will continue to have a solid strength of schedule, which is good for our team, fans and college football.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 24th 

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Delaware a first-year FBS program: “There’s no reason we can’t do this”

From ESPN … Russ Crook has a shirt he likes to wear to Delaware football road games. He’s a lifelong fan and the current president of the Blue Hen Touchdown Club, but he knows the jokes, so he picked up the shirt a few years back when he saw it at the historic National 5 & 10 store on Main Street. It’s gray with a map of the state across the chest and the ubiquitous punchline delivered succinctly: “Dela-where?”

Yes, the state is small, though Rhode Island gets the acclaim that comes with being the country’s smallest. In popular culture, Delaware often translates as something of a non-place — cue the “Wayne’s World” GIF — and it’s widely appreciated by outsiders as little more than a 28-mile stretch of I-95 between Maryland and Pennsylvania that hardly warrants mentioning.

It’s a harmless enough stereotype, but Cook is hopeful this football season can start to change some perceptions. After all, in 2025, Delaware — the football program — hits the big time. Or, Conference USA, at least.

“Delaware’s a small state, but the university has 24,000 students,” Crook said. “Many big-time schools are smaller than we are. There’s no reason we can’t do this.”

When the Blue Hens kick off against Delaware State on Aug. 28, they will be, for the first time, an FBS football team, joining Missouri State as first-year members of Conference USA — the 135th and 136th FBS programs.

Longtime Hens fans might not have believed the move was possible even a few years ago, as much for the school’s ethos as the state’s stature. The university’s leadership had spent decades holding firm in the belief that the Hens were best positioned as a big fish in the relatively small ponds of Division II and, later, FCS.

And yet, just as the rest of the college sports world is reeling from an onslaught of change — revenue sharing, the transfer portal, NIL and conference realignment — Delaware decided it was time to join the party.

“Us and Delaware are probably making this move at one of the more difficult times to make the move in history,” said Missouri State AD Patrick Ransdell.

All of which begs the question: Why now?

Many of Delaware’s historic rivals — UMass, App State, Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, James Madison — had already made the leap to FBS, and the Hens’ previous conference, the Colonial, was reeling. Economic conditions at the FCS level made life challenging for administration. The NCAA was making moves to curb future transitions from FCS to FBS, and the school felt its window to make a move was closing.

“We had no choice,” Crook said.

And so, ready or not, the Hens are about to embark on a new era — a chance to prove themselves at a higher level and, perhaps, provide Delaware with a reputation that’s more than a punchline.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 23rd

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No. 22 Iowa State defeats No. 17 Kansas State, 24-21; Dylan Edwards injured

From ESPN … Rocco Becht passed for two touchdowns and ran for another score, helping No. 22 Iowa State beat No. 17 Kansas State 24-21 in the Aer Lingus Classic on Saturday.

Becht was 14 for 28 for 183 yards. He found Dominic Overby for a 23-yard TD in the first quarter and passed to Brett Eskildsen for a 24-yard score in the third quarter.

With 2:26 to go, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell had his team go for it on fourth-and-3 at the Kansas State 16-yard line. Becht found Carson Hansen for 15 yards and iced the game.

“He called a great play, he gave me two plays and let me decide and I knew we were going to have a chance to get it,” Becht said “We’ve worked on it in practice and it’s been working for us and we’re confident with it and I have trust in my guys.”

The Cyclones (1-0, 1-0 Big 12) opened a 24-14 lead in the fourth quarter after a turnover on downs by Kansas State at its own 30-yard line. Becht finished the short drive with a 7-yard touchdown run with 6:38 left.

Avery Johnson passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas State (0-1, 0-1). He also had a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

“I mean that’s the thing, regardless of the outcome we have 11 games to play,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said. “We have our back against the wall, but now we’ve got to reset and regroup and get ready to play.”

Johnson threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Jerand Bradley with 6:23 remaining, but the Wildcats never got the ball back.

Both teams struggled to deal with wet conditions in the first half. Kansas State had two turnovers and a turnover on downs while Iowa State committed two turnovers in the first 30 minutes.

Edwards injured

Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards was injured in the first quarter on a punt that he muffed. He didn’t return to the game.

… Read full story here …

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August 22nd

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Rule changes for the 2025 season

From CBS Sports … In an effort to clean up a few troubling areas and persistent complaints within the sport, there’s more than a half-dozen significant rules changes going into effect for college football’s 2025 season. Many are injury-focused, while a few relate to player conduct and updated policies to better police the game.

Steve Shaw, the NCAA secretary-rules editor, recently announced the rules alterations in connection with the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame through a partnership with College Football Officiating.

“The mission of the Rules Committee is to develop and evaluate rules changes that will enhance the sport, protect the image of the game, and enhance the student athlete’s health and safety,” Shaw said in a release this month. “Player safety has been the highest priority of the committee for many years now resulting in significant changes that have improved the game in terms of mitigating injuries.”

Here are the primary rule changes that will take effect in FBS play this season beginning with Saturday’s opener in Dublin, Ireland featuring Iowa State and Kansas State.

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August 21st 

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SEC gives in – to go with nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026

From ESPN … The SEC will play a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026, the league said Thursday, a historic move it’s been considering for years.

The decision was approved by the SEC’s presidents and chancellors after a recommendation by the athletic directors in the conference.

“Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a news release. “This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paired with our requirement to play an additional Power opponent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff.”

Under the new format, the SEC will continue to play without divisions. Each school will play three annual opponents focused on maintaining traditional rivalries, and the remaining six games will rotate among the rest of the league opponents.

Each team will face every other SEC program at least once every two years and every opponent home and away over four years.

SEC teams are still required to schedule at least one additional high-quality nonconference opponent from the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten or Big 12 conferences or Notre Dame each season.

… Continue reading story here …

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Nebraska 2nd-most overrated team of the past decade: “They’ve failed to even reach competence”

From CBS Sports … The future of Texas A&M football looked brighter than ever in December of 2012 as Johnny Manziel cradled the Heisman Trophy in Manhattan before the Aggies capped an 11-2 season with a Cotton Bowl victory over Oklahoma. A&M was fresh off a wildly successful debut campaign for coach Kevin Sumlin and had sent a warning shot to the SEC during its first year in the league by winning at No. 1 Alabama.

Backed by big boosters, with a massive stadium renovation project on deck and a home in college football’s top conference, the Aggies looked poise to claim a spot in college football’s ruling class. In retrospect, however, that 2012 season is the 21st century high-water mark for a program that is always at least somewhat relevant but never dominant.

A&M’s efforts to spend its way to the top have failed, leading to a program reset under Mike Elko for the 2024 season that Aggies fans hope will begin paying dividends in 2025. The Aggies have languished behind their expectations, but they aren’t alone on college football’s misery meter.

Not far behind is a Nebraska program that fancied itself above winning 9 or 10 games on a regular basis under Bo Peeling from 2008-14. In the decade after his firing, the Cornhuskers won nine games just once and only last season snapped a streak of seven consecutive seasons without a bowl appearance.

2. Nebraska

10-year record: 50-69
Average coach salary: $4.42 million
Average recruiting ranking: 24.3
Losing seasons: 8
Record vs. top 25: 2-28
CFP appearances: 0

The hiring of Scott Frost at the end of the 2017 season drew an “A” grade from CBS Sports. The native son was coming off an undefeated season at UCF and looked like a slam dunk. But he limped to a 16-31 (10-26 Big Ten) record over five seasons, even while regularly signing top-25 classes. The Cornhuskers never beat a ranked team under Frost’s leadership — despite making plenty of appearances on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff — while suffering an endless cascade of close losses. The jury is still out on whether successor Matt Rhule is going to make Nebraska a real player in the Big Ten. He also received an “A” grade but is just 12-13 through two seasons. There’s never been a season when true greatness was expected from the Cornhuskers in the past 10 years. But they’ve failed to even reach competence.

… Read full story here …

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August 20th

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Texas Tech: Big 12’s most overrated (or underrated) team?

From CBS Sports … The Big 12 proved itself as the hardest conference to project last season as Arizona State went from picked last place to winning the Big 12 as a first-year member of the conference. After two straight years of change, though, the league finally heads into 2025 with a secured group of 16 teams.

But while the league gets steadier, the race for the conference championship will only get more competitive. Five teams are between +550 and +650 to win the league at FanDuel and 15 of the 16 league members have win totals set between 5.5 and 8.5. Returning 11 quarterbacks — including six of the top seven passers — will only add to the chaos.

Last season, Arizona State and Iowa State met in the Big 12 Championship Game as both posted breakout seasons under well-regarded coaches. One interesting note to keep an eye on: The Big 12 has featured a new participant in the Big 12 Championship Game in seven of the past eight years.

Among the top contenders, Texas Tech and Utah are the only ones to not make the final. Could that change in 2025? Here’s how our experts see the Big 12 shaking out this season.

Most overrated team

Texas Tech: It’s hard to say anybody in the Big 12 is overrated because it truly is anybody’s ballgame, but I do think we’re all overreacting to Tech’s transfer portal bonanza. The results of the portal have shown that the biggest benefactors have been the programs who were already established powers. When it comes to everyone else, you’ll see an occassional team make a huge leap, but the typical result sees a team improve by a win, if that. The Raiders are far more likely to be 8-4 than 10-2. — Tom Fornelli (also David Cobb)

Iowa State: I’ve got the Cyclones rated as a plus-value Big 12 and power conference team but the top 25 ranking they are carrying into the season seems to be an extended celebration from the program’s first-ever 11-win season. The team has to replace two 1,000-yard receivers and could see a regression after going 5-1 in one-score games last season. Iowa State has a solid foundation with its run game and defense, but makes more sense as a top 40 team to start. — Chip Patterson (also Shehan Jeyarajah)

Most underrated team

Baylor: The Bears won six straight to finish the regular season last year and have one of the more unheralded returning starters at QB. Sawyer Robertson is the real deal, and I expect he’ll announce his presence with authority in the season-opener against Auburn. — Tom Fornelli

Texas Tech: Is it unpopular to select one of the top betting favorites as an “underrated” team? Sure. But I think nationally not enough respect is being given to the ceiling if all of Texas Tech’s bets pay off. If the investment in this roster, which has included high-profile additions on both sides of the ball, add to a group that was a couple blown leads away from competing for the Big 12 title a year ago it’s not crazy to think of Texas Tech as a top-10 team in the country by season’s end. — Patterson

… Read full story here …

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August 19th

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BYU to start a true freshman at quarterback

… BYU will take on CU in Folsom on Saturday, September 27th (8:15 p.m., MT, ESPN). The Cougars will open the season with games against Portland State, Stanford, and at East Carolina … 

From ESPN … BYU is naming Bear Bachmeier as its starting quarterback, sources told ESPN, which will make him the first true freshman in school history to start an opener for BYU.

Bachmeier, who will wear No. 47, will debut against Portland State on Aug. 30. He takes over the quarterback job on a team that went 11-2 last season. Although he’s a true freshman, Bachmeier is also a transfer. He spent the spring at Stanford, BYU’s Week 2 opponent, before transferring to BYU in early May.

He originally came as the likely backup quarterback for established incumbent Jake Retzlaff, who transferred to Tulane after his withdrawal from the school on July 11 in the wake of BYU’s planned seven-game suspension of him for violating the school’s honor code.

Bachmeier won the starting job by beating out redshirt sophomore transfer McCae Hillstead (via Utah State) and redshirt junior transfer Treyson Bourguet (via Western Michigan).

Bachmeier will be throwing to his brother Tiger, a junior wide receiver who also transferred to BYU from Stanford this spring. Tiger Bachmeier projects as a rotation wide receiver for BYU and is expected to play a lot of snaps. The Bear to Tiger connection — one passing to the other — will generate a lot of attention for the Cougars. The Bachmeiers come from a football family, as their oldest brother, Hank, played quarterback at Boise State, Louisiana Tech and Wake Forest. Bear Bachmeier had offers out of high school from schools such as Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.

Bachmeier’s spot as the first true freshman starter is notable considering BYU’s vast quarterback history, which includes Ty Detmer, Jim McMahon and Steve Young.

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August 16th

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Big Ten discussing 24- or 28-team playoff

From ESPN … The Big Ten has considered an idea of a massive expansion of the College Football Playoff that would grow the postseason to 24 or 28 teams, sources told ESPN.

While the idea is in the very early stages, the proposal eliminates conference title games and offers a large number of auto bids for all four power leagues, sources said.

For example, in the 28-team model, the Big Ten and SEC would each get seven auto bids while the ACC and Big 12 would each receive five. There would be two auto bids for the non-Power 4 conferences and two at-large teams.

The 28-team format would put 20 playoff games on campus, which would accentuate the success of that from last year’s CFP. The CFP committee would seed the field and pick the at-large teams.

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti ran the idea by his conference Wednesday, sources said, and that it has begun being shared by others.

The 2025 season will be the second year of the 12-team playoff. College football leaders have been discussing expansion to 16 teams over the past year, but disagreement over the number of at-large teams vs. auto bids has been a sticking point.

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ESPN Bowl Projections: CU in El Paso? (Or LA?)

From ESPN … The 2025 college football season is nearly here, and while we all look forward to 16 weeks of excitement, upsets and general mayhem, there will be even more where that came from once we hit the postseason.

The highlight of that, of course, is the 12-team College Football Playoff, now in its second year. As in last season’s inaugural CFP, the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams, will make the field. Unlike last year, the four highest-ranked teams (not necessarily conference champions) will be awarded first-round byes. The other eight teams will meet in first-round games at the campus sites of seeds Nos. 5 through 8.

From there, the quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in what had been the New Year’s Six bowls, with this season’s national championship game scheduled for Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

All of that is just the tip of the iceberg, though. Apart from the playoff is the 35-game slate of bowl games, beginning with the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 13.

We’re here for all of it.

Although no games have yet been played, ESPN bowl gurus Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are nonetheless projecting every postseason matchup, including their breakdowns of how the playoff will play out, just to whet your appetite for the fun ahead.

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From the “Pac-12” … 

— College Football Playoff qualifiers … Oregon and Arizona State 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. Washington
Schlabach: Kansas State vs. USC

Wednesday, Dec. 31

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Nebraska vs. Utah
Schlabach: Nebraska vs. Utah

TBD

Holiday Bowl
Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
Time TBD, Fox
Bonagura: Georgia Tech vs. USC
Schlabach: SMU vs. Washington

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: Virginia vs. UCLA
Schlabach: Florida State vs. Colorado

Saturday, Dec. 13

LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Colorado vs. UNLV
Schlabach: Oregon State vs. San José State

Wednesday, Dec. 24

Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Fresno State vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: UNLV vs. Navy

Saturday, Dec. 27

Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Hawai’i vs. Cal
Schlabach: Colorado State vs. Texas State

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August 15th

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Michigan hit with penalties which could cost the school $30 million

From ESPN … The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions ruled on the University of Michigan’s advance-scouting case Friday, with the school facing a series of fines that could eclipse $30 million. The Wolverines avoided punitive penalties such as a postseason ban or the vacating of victories, including during the 2023 national championship season.

The NCAA also imposed an additional game suspension for coach Sherrone Moore, which will be served for the first game of the 2026 season. Moore is expected to serve a two-game suspension in the upcoming season, which ESPN reported in May that the university proposed to self-impose. He also received a two-year show-cause penalty.

The 2025 games will be the Wolverines’ third and fourth of the season, a home contest against Central Michigan and a road matchup at Nebraska. The 2026 opener is expected to be against Western Michigan in Frankfurt, Germany.

The NCAA committee also levied an eight-year show-cause penalty for former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions and a 10-year show-cause for ex-coach Jim Harbaugh, who is now in the NFL. Those essentially act as barriers to schools hiring them in the future. Harbaugh’s new 10-year show-cause penalty will not begin until after he serves a current four-year show-cause from a previous NCAA case.

The size of the fine is expected to be considerable, although a finite amount will not be immediately available. It includes a $50,000 initial levy, 10% of the football budget, 10% of the cost of football scholarships for the 2025 season, and the loss of all postseason competition revenue sharing for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. That sum could easily eclipse $30 million.

Though there are variables on how much teams get from football postseason revenue, sources expect that number alone based on past Big Ten income and projections to be more than $20 million. Some of that will depend on the performance of both Michigan and the Big Ten. The football budget in 2024 was more than $70 million, which means the amount is likely to be at least $7 million for that part of the fine, depending on updated budgets.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 14th

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CU’s Week Two opponent makes ESPN’s preseason Bottom Ten

From ESPN … Here at Bottom 10 Headquarters, located inside the 18-wheeler of tissues being delivered to the “College GameDay” set for Coach Corso’s final show, we have spent the offseason staring at the map. Specifically, a United States puzzle map. We picked up the piece labeled “Massachusetts” and held it while we kept one eye on the calendar and one eye on the clock.

Then, as the long hand hit 12 and it became midnight and thus was officially Tuesday, July 1, 2025, we slathered crazy glue onto the back of that wooden facsimile of the Codfish State and screamed, “UMASS IS WALKING BACK TO THE MAC, BABY!”

That’s when the lights came on. Standing in the doorway were the kids from whose playroom I’d stolen the puzzle. They were crying. There was a dog, apparently named Mac, who thought I’d called him for a walk. Now he was crying. Then there was my wife, in her pajamas and mad because I’d woken her up. She pointed to my hand, still held high in the air about to slap Massachusetts into the heart of the Mid-American Conference and said, “Nice job, moron. You palmed the side with the crazy glue. I hope you like UMass as much as you say you do, because I’m out of nail polish remover. That’s gonna still be in your hand when the season starts.”

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10. I’m in … Delaware (9-2, FCS)

… Read full story here …

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August 13th 

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Kansas receives historic $300 million donation (yes, I’m jealous)

… If anyone has an “in” with the South Park guys, now would be a good time to make a pitch for a donation … 

From CBS Sports … In what is believed to be one of the largest gifts in college athletics history, the University of Kansas announced that alumnus David Booth pledged $300 million to support athletics and campus development. The donation includes $75 million aimed at funding the next phase of the Gateway District and renovations to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, while the remainder is expected to provide long-term support for Kansas athletics programs.

Booth, a Lawrence native and founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, has a long history of giving to Kansas. His previous contributions include a $50 million gift in 2017 that helped launch renovations at the football stadium, which was later named in his honor.

“David’s unprecedented generosity is transformative now and for our future,” Kansas athletics director Travis Goff said in a release. “… We’re profoundly grateful for David’s leadership and extraordinary impact on generations of student-athletes and fans. There is no more generous and impactful Jayhawk, and we are so fortunate to call him a friend and mentor.”

The Gateway District project includes new student housing, a hotel, expanded retail and restaurant space, an outdoor plaza and additional parking. Phase 2 of the project, which aims to finish the south and east sides of the football stadium and develop the surrounding mixed-use district, has an estimated cost of $346 million, according to a Lawrence city commissioner meeting agenda. City officials approved an $86 million tax incentive package to support the project, with a maximum of $94.6 million in public funding available. The total cost of the Gateway Project, including the first phase that renovated much of the stadium and added a conference center, is estimated at $794 million.

University officials said the donation also provides flexibility for athletics programs amid changing NCAA regulations and revenue-sharing structures.

Booth, who earned both undergraduate and master’s degrees from Kansas before completing an MBA at the University of Chicago, said he views the gift as an investment in the university’s future.

… Continue reading story here …

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Why no media love for Week Zero matchup between No. 17 Kansas State and No. 22 Iowa State (Hint: They are not CU)

From Stewart Mandel at The Athletic …

No. 17 Kansas State vs. No. 22 Iowa State in Dublin is the first Week 0 game between ranked opponents since 2000. It’s also potentially significant for the Big 12 title race. Yet it doesn’t feel like there has been much national attention on that game, with previews already looking ahead to Week 1 games like Texas at Ohio State. Is there a reason that game is under-the-radar nationally? — Aaron M.

We didn’t call it Week 0 back then, but you’re bringing back some great memories of those high-profile Kickoff/Pigskin/Eddie Robinson Classics.

The last “big” Week 0 game I remember was in 2004, No. 1 USC vs. Virginia Tech in Washington, D.C., when Reggie Bush caught three touchdown passes. Those games all went kaput the next year when the NCAA went to a permanent 12-game schedule, and Week 0 did not return until Cal-Hawaii in Australia in 2016, which helps explain the long drought.

To be blunt, the reason it’s flying under the radar is because it’s not a Big Ten or SEC game. K-State and Iowa State are good programs, but they are not big national brands. Outside of Colorado, there aren’t any in the Big 12 right now. I know in my head I’ve been thinking ahead to No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State myself. But come kickoff on Aug. 23, I’d imagine most college football fans will come to the realization that, wow, there’s a really good game on today.

In fact, I could have easily seen myself picking this to be the Big 12 championship matchup, but it’s tough to see that happening when one of the two is already going to be 0-1 in league play. The loser basically has no margin for error the rest of the way, especially if the two schools end up in a tiebreaker situation.

And if you’re a CFP aspirant from the Big 12, you’d better win your conference.

So needless to say, this is not Northwestern-Nebraska. Iowa State-K-State is legit high stakes. Tune in.

… Read full story here …

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August 12th 

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Texas first preseason No. 1 to be a Game One underdog

From ESPN … Texas, fresh off the first No. 1 ranking in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll in program history, finds itself a 2.5-point underdog to No. 3 Ohio State for their Week 1 showdown in Columbus, according to ESPN BET lines.

Barring significant line movement, this would make the Longhorns the first top-ranked team to be an underdog in Week 1, according to ESPN Research data dating back to 1978.

The previous tightest Week 1 point spread for a No. 1 team was when Florida State lost outright as a four-point favorite at No. 8 Miami in 1988. Auburn also lost as a five-point favorite against No. 10 Miami in 1984, while Notre Dame won and covered as a five-point favorite against No. 4 Michigan in 1990.

ESPN BET reports Texas-Ohio State as its most-bet college football game in early betting, with the Longhorns attracting 54.1% of the handle on the spread and 73.6% of the handle on the money line (+115). On the total (48.5), 26.4% of bets and 56.4% of money are on the under (-115).

Texas and Ohio State are the two betting favorites for the national championship, as they both show +550 odds to win the College Football Playoff; No. 2 Penn State, which missed the top spot in the AP poll by just five points, is next on the odds board at +600.

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August 11th

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No love from the media: CU gets one lone vote in preseason Associated Press poll

… Seven of CU’s 12 2025 opponents “ranked” above CU in the poll (though only three in the actual Top 25) … 

From CBS Sports … With Monday’s AP Poll Top 25 release — the first ahead of the 2025 season — Texas made more history ahead of a highly anticipated campaign. The Longhorns came in at No. 1, earning 25 of the 65 first-place votes, for the first time ever.

This latest accolade comes just one week after Texas occupied the top spot in the preseason Coaches Poll for the first time in program history. It should come as no surprise, then, that this also marks Texas’ debut as a unanimous preseason No. 1 in both major polls.

Texas just edged out a surprising No. 2 in Penn State, which garnered 23 votes for first place. The Nittany Lions have big expectations in 2025 with quarterback Drew Allar back leading an experienced roster, and they start the year ahead of rival Ohio State, the reigning national champions.

Penn State and the Buckeyes were two of three Big Ten teams in the top 10, while the SEC had a slight advantage over other Power Four conferences with four programs among the 10 best teams in the country, according to AP Poll voters. Ten of the SEC’s 16 teams made the cut, while the SEC and the Big Ten combined to produce 16 of the top 25 teams.

Below is the full AP Poll top 25 ahead of the 2025 season with the number of first-place votes in parentheses.

1. Texas (25)
2. Penn State (23)
3. Ohio State (11)
4. Clemson (4)
5. Georgia (1)
6. Notre Dame
7. Oregon (1)
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. Miami (FL)
11. Arizona State
12. Illinois
13. South Carolina
14. Michigan
15. Florida
16. SMU
17. Kansas State
18. Oklahoma
19. Texas A&M
20. Indiana
21. Ole Miss
22. Iowa State
23. Texas Tech
24. Tennessee
25. Boise State

Others receiving votes: BYU 156, Utah 144, Baylor 132, Louisville 90, Southern Cal 64, Georgia Tech 63, Missouri 33, Tulane 23, Nebraska 23, UNLV 21, Toledo 13, Auburn 10, James Madison 9, Memphis 9, Florida St. 8, Duke 6, Liberty 5, Navy 5, Iowa 5, TCU 4, Pittsburgh 3, Army 2, Colorado 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 1

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August 9th

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CSU/Boise State/Utah State file updated lawsuit against Mountain West Conference

From ESPN … Three departing members of the Mountain West Conference are suing the league, alleging it improperly withheld millions of dollars and misled them about a plan to accelerate Grand Canyon’s membership.

Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State filed an updated lawsuit in the District Court of Denver arguing the conference and Commissioner Gloria Nevarez willfully disregarded the league’s bylaws by “intentionally and fraudulently” depriving the schools of their membership rights.

The three schools, which are all headed to the Pac-12 after the 2025-26 school year, are seeking damages for millions of dollars of alleged harm caused by the Mountain West, including the withholding of money earned by Boise State for playing in last year’s College Football Playoff.

“We are disappointed that the Mountain West continues to improperly retaliate against the departing members and their student athletes,” Steve Olson, partner and litigation department co-chair for the O’Melveny law firm, said in a statement. “We will seek all appropriate relief from the court to protect our clients’ rights and interests.”

The Mountain West declined further comment outside of a statement released last week. The conference has said the departing schools were involved in adopting the exit fees and sought to enforce those against San Diego State when it tried to leave the conference two years ago.

“We remain confident in our legal position, which we will vigorously defend,” the statement said.

The three outgoing schools argue the Mountain West’s exit fees, which could range from $19 million to $38 million, are unlawful and not enforceable. The lawsuit also claims the Mountain West concealed a plan to move up Grand Canyon University’s membership a year to 2025-26 without informing the departing schools.

The Mountain West is also seeking $55 million in “poaching fees” from the Pac-12 for the loss of five schools, including San Diego State and Fresno State starting in 2026. The two sides are headed back to court after mediation that expired last month failed to reach a resolution.

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August 7th

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Top 25 national storylines includes post-Shedeur/Travis Buffs

From CBS Sports … The effects of all the off-field drama seemed to pile up in college football heading into the 2024 season, and frankly, it seemed a little overwhelming. Conferences were unrecognizable; the College Football Playoff had tripled in size; and the rampant nature of the transfer portal and NIL had turned the sport into non-stop free agency. If you have been following and loved this sport for a long time, it was okay to feel a bit uneasy about the state of the game.

But then you woke up on that first Week 1 Saturday and laid out a schedule of the games you wanted to watch, the snacks you wanted to enjoy and picked the teams you thought might win. Maybe you had tickets to a home game and were already in town with family or friends to go back to the hallowed cathedral of sports that is a college football stadium. The games started, we overreacted to results, yelled about rankings and got right back to it the following Saturday, elated to be in the midst of another fall in college football.

College football is the most human sport in America and its popularity and survival — seemingly against all odds — comes from our desire for those fall Saturday traditions. And there’s no doubt that our traditions have been hurt by conference realignment, the transfer portal and more of the “modernization” that has come in recent years. But when tens of thousands of fans gather in places where many spent their own childhoods or young-adult years, the amateurism that still exists is our willingness to participate in this sport, not just without pay, but often at a cost. Fans are doing it for the love the game, still, and that shared experience is unlike anything else you’re going to find in sports.

9. Post-Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders era at Colorado 

Deion Sanders brought good news to the table when he addressed the media alongside his medical team at the start of fall camp, revealing that he had undergone surgery to remove a cancerous tumor on his bladder and has been cleared in his recovery. The Colorado football program supported him through this offseason battle, which kept him away from Boulder, and now Sanders has become a spokesperson for health screenings among his many callings given the spotlight he’s commanded since he was a young two-sport star.

Hearing Sanders’ commitment to the program, which included his decision to opt for surgery instead of treatment that could keep him away from the team in 2025, inspires confidence in what he and the staff have been working towards since the departure of his two sons, Shedeur and Shilo, as well as Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Sanders brought two quarterbacks, Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and blue-chip quarterback Juju Lewis, to Big 12 Media Days to spotlight their battle to be Shedeur’s successor, and the loss of not just Hunter but multiple NFL receivers has Colorado pivoting to being a team that might lean on defense and the run game a bit more to power wins in 2025.

10. Has the Big 12 settled after a disruptive 2024? 

Year 1 of an expanded, 16-team Big 12 delivered on commissioner Brett Yormark’s promise of being one of the most competitive leagues in the country. After all, nothing highlights the close margins and tight nature of the Big 12 than a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12 standings and nearly double that number of teams that had a chance to make the conference title game in the final weeks of the season. Looking at the final standings compared to the preseason poll was like a funhouse mirror, as preseason favorites like Utah and Oklahoma State failed to even make a bowl game while Arizona State went from 16th in the predicted order of finish to winning the league and making the College Football Playoff.

But have things calmed down now? Is the Big 12 really going to be another chaos conference that requires a cryptex to figure out the tiebreakers? Because there’s a growing sense that there is a top tier, with the Sun Devils defending their crown against the likes of Kansas State, Texas Tech, Utah and even Baylor. It does still look like a league where anyone could get taken down on a given Saturday, but in terms of the big picture it’s a league that has possibly settled into tiers (famous last words, I know).

19. Rich Rod returns to Morgantown

Following in the recent tradition of coaches returning to their alma mater and/or former stops, West Virginia reached out to Rich Rodriguez to arrange a return after a successful stint guiding Jacksonville State from the FCS into Conference USA all the way to a conference title. Rich Rod’s return has come with some generational divides (we’ve almost filled out a punch card with references to TikTok in press conferences) but also the challenges of rebooting a roster in the transfer portal era. According to 247Sports the Mountaineers have welcomed more than 50 players in from the transfer portal, and now it’s Rodriguez’s job to get this group of mercenaries to buy in to his brand of football. The nostalgia will be electric, especially with another edition of the Backyard Brawl against Pitt early in the season, but whether the message translates will be a key question to answer when it comes the team’s competitiveness in the Big 12.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 6th

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CBS Sports 1-136 preseason rankings; CU at No. 46 overall

From CBS Sports … Preseason college football rankings have always been a challenging exercise, but never has it been more of a guessing game than the modern era. Massive roster turnover through the transfer portal and the annual musical chairs at the quarterback position have brought uncertainty to some of the more traditional methods of ranking teams, forcing college football experts to dig deeper to formulate opinions on how these teams stack up against each other before the first kickoff of the season.

Luckily, our CBS Sports 136 voters are willing to do that work, ranking not only a top 25 — like those other polls — but stacking the entire FBS landscape against each other. As we cycle back for another season, we here at CBS Sports and 247Sports welcome Delaware and Missouri State to the list as our ballot grows from 134 teams to 136 teams.

In terms of the top of the rankings, the CBS Sports 136 is in line with the Coaches Poll in naming Texas as the No. 1 team. The Longhorns were a top-four team at the end of last year and boast one of the most talented rosters in the country. Texas has been so consistent the last two seasons that we’re not even talking about the Longhorns being “back.” Those jokes are long gone because Texas is “here,” and it’s time for the Arch Manning era to begin.

Where the CBS Sports 136 strays from the Coaches Poll, and even the oddsmakers, is having Penn State, not Ohio State, at No. 2. The Nittany Lions are loaded up with returning stars from a team that also made it to the CFP semifinals a year ago, and with multiple players turning down the NFL Draft, they have the same kind of unified veteran movement that recent champions like 2023 Michigan and 2024 Ohio State had going into their trophy-claiming seasons. Now, the Buckeyes are not far back, checking in at No. 3, with some voters favoring Ohio State to Penn State even if that did not come through as the consensus.

From the Big 12 …

• 11. Arizona State
• 14. Kansas State
• 19. Iowa State
• 21. Texas Tech
• 25. Utah
• 26. Baylor
• 31. TCU
• 36. BYU
• 39. Kansas
• 46. Colorado
• 52. Cincinnati
• 53. Houston
• 64. Oklahoma State
• 65. West Virginia
• 68. Arizona
• 74. UCF

… Read full story here …

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Top Ten Easiest Schedules includes four Big 12 teams

From CBS Sports … College football schedule metrics vastly differ this time of year with most relying on perception, last season’s results or lookahead predictions to determine toughness. On the other side of the coin, there are several Power Four programs blessed with favorable schedules that could lead to momentum-changing seasons near the top of their respective conferences.

These “easiest schedule rankings” are heavily influenced by our cumulative post-spring top 25 rankings, which averaged out various polls from CBS Sports, ESPN, Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Fox Sports and Bleacher Report. Our strength of schedule rankings for each conference were also considered.

Schedule favorability matters for a program trying to get to the playoff and these teams — like Indiana and SMU demonstrated last season — are potentially equipped to win with slates conducive to success in 2025.

10. Kansas Jayhawks

Number of opponents in cumulative top 25: 3

Jalon Daniels is back to finish what he started with the Jayhawks in hopes of getting Kansas to the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in program history. There’s going to be considerable hype around the Jayhawks if they’re able to start the season 6-0, highlighted by a road win over Missouri in September. That would given this team a chance at a top-tier finish in the conference with three top 25 games the rest of the way — Texas Tech, Kansas State and Iowa State.

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Number of opponents in cumulative top 25: 2

Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders assessed every need on their roster this offseason and landed several big fish, enough for the program to warrant “Big 12 championship threat” status ahead of the opener. For a program that’s never reached the league’s title game, it doesn’t hurt that the 2025 schedule should do its part too with Arizona State and Kansas State being the only nationally ranked opponents.

5. Houston Cougars

Number of opponents in cumulative top 25: 2

One of four Big 12 teams inside this top 10, the Cougars know what they’ll have to do to reach the playoff for the first time — handle business in the nonconference and tip-toe through a Big 12 slate alternating home and away contests throughout. We’ll know if Houston has taken advantage of a favorable schedule once the Cougars return from their trip to Tempe in late October.

4. BYU Cougars

Number of opponents in cumulative top 25: 2

BYU squandered a potential playoff chance down the stretch last season but faces a slate not as daunting in 2025. In fact, we’ve got the Cougars’ schedule as the Big 12’s easiest with only a couple games where BYU is expected to be a betting underdog (at Iowa State, at Texas Tech). Following quarterback Jake Retzlaff’s transfer to Tulane this summer, BYU will use its first couple of games against inferior foes to get things sorted out offensively. And that’s a mini-blessing for coach Kalani Sitake.

… Read full story here …

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August 5th

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The Athletic: Unranked dark-horse teams to watch

From The Athletic … Though we usually have a good idea of which teams will be national championship contenders, the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams has made it easier for unpredictable sleepers to make a run into the bracket.

Arizona State, Indiana and SMU joined top Group of 5 conference champion Boise State in leaping from unranked in the preseason to the Playoff last season. Who could do it this year? We asked 11 of The Athletic’s college football writers to pick Playoff dark horses from teams that were unranked in Monday’s preseason coaches poll.

Utah

The Utes had a disappointing and injury-ravaged 5-7 season in 2024, including just 2-7 in their inaugural year of Big 12 play. Predicting a Utah bounce-back means betting on head coach Kyle Whittingham, who is coming off just his third losing season in two decades with the Utes, and pushing in the chips on a new-look offense.

Whittingham hired offensive coordinator Jason Beck away from New Mexico, and Beck brought the Lobos’ dynamic dual-threat quarterback Devon Dampier along with him. The combination of Dampier playing behind arguably the best offensive line in the country (anchored by left tackle Spencer Fano), Whittingham’s consistently stout defense and a tantalizingly wide-open Big 12 should give Utah a reasonable road to the Playoff.

Georgia Tech

Brent Key has already brought the Yellow Jackets back to respectability. This isn’t a five star-laden roster, nor one built through the portal. But Key has built along the lines and has a lot of good pieces back, most notably QB Haynes King, a three-year starter whose dual-threat abilities are a problem for defense.

But the biggest reason for optimism is the schedule: The only two preseason ranked opponents are Clemson and Georgia, both of which are in Atlanta. (Georgia is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.) There’s a path to the 10-2 record the Jackets would probably need to make the CFP, starting with the opener at Colorado, which is a chance to make a good first impression.

Kansas

Kansas and preseason expectations don’t always go together. The Jayhawks had some preseason buzz last year after going 9-4 in Lance Leipold’s third season, but that quickly faded amid a 2-6 start. Quarterback Jalon Daniels had a disappointing season after an injury-plagued 2023, and the Jayhawks had a rocky transition from offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to Jeff Grimes.

Looking ahead to 2025, Daniels is back, Grimes is off to Wisconsin and the Jayhawks are unveiling a long-awaited stadium renovation. Maybe this is their year. It will be fun to see what new offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski can do with Daniels and running back Daniel Hinshaw Jr., the No. 21 player on Feldman’s Freaks List.

There’s no dominant team in the Big 12, and the Jayhawks avoid playing defending champion Arizona State in the regular season. The schedule sets up decently well for a dark-horse run to the CFP if Kansas can get past Missouri in a renewal of the Border War.

… Read full story here …

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August 4th

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Preseason USA Today coaches poll: Five teams in Top 25; CU among “others” (44th overall)

From CBS Sports.com … The 2025 college football season is fast approaching, and with less than three weeks until kickoff, anticipation is rising. Monday’s release of the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll provides the first official glimpse at how the projected top programs stack up entering another pivotal campaign.

Reigning national champion Ohio State opens the fall with sky-high expectations after a dominant postseason run, but it’s Texas, led by early Heisman Trophy candidate Arch Manning, that sits atop the rankings. For the first time in program history, the Longhorns claim the No. 1 spot in the preseason Coaches Poll, surpassing their highest preseason ranking since opening at No. 2 in 2009, the year they last contended for a national title.

Texas gets an early chance to prove it belongs. A showdown with the No. 2 Buckeyes in the season opener on Aug. 30 in Columbus looms large as a potential defining moment in the Longhorns’ pursuit of their first national title in two decades.

The SEC leads all Power Four conferences with nine teams in the preseason Coaches Poll, followed by the Big Ten with six. The Big 12 places five teams in the rankings, while the ACC rounds it out with three.

Below is the full Coaches Poll top 25 from the 67 coaches who vote (first-place votes in parentheses).

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Texas (28)
2. Ohio State (20)
3. Penn State (14)
4. Georgia (3)
5. Notre Dame
6. Clemson (2)
7. Oregon
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. Miami (FL)
11. Arizona State
12. Illinois
13. South Carolina
14. Michigan
15. Ole Miss
16. SMU
17. Florida
18. Tennessee
19. Indiana
20. Kansas State
21(T): Texas A&M
21(T): Iowa State
23. BYU
24. Texas Tech
25. Boise State

Others receiving votes: Oklahoma 221, Missouri 142, Louisville 126, USC 116, Utah 86, Baylor 76, Auburn 50, Iowa 49, Memphis 34, Army 33, Tulane 31, Georgia Tech 27, TCU 24, Nebraska 19, Syracuse 16, Washington 15, Navy 14, Arkansas 14, Duke 12, Colorado 12, Minnesota 11, UNLV 8, Florida State 8, Kansas 6, Vanderbilt 3, Buffalo 1

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Press release from the Big 12 …

Five Big 12 Football Teams Ranked In Preseason US LBM Coaches Poll
IRVING, Texas – For a second consecutive season, the Big 12 Conference had five teams ranked in the Preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. Arizona State was the highest ranked Big 12 program at 11th and was followed by Kansas State (20th), Iowa State (21st), BYU (23rd) and Texas Tech (24th).

Baylor, Colorado, Kansas, TCU and Utah gave the Conference five additional teams receiving votes in the preseason poll.

Preseason US LBM Coaches Poll Notes

• The Sun Devils’ No. 11 ranking is the highest for a Big 12 team in the preseason poll since 2022 and the program’s best since 1998.

• The 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll marked the third consecutive season that Kansas State has been ranked in the initial poll.

• Iowa State’s inclusion pushes its rankings streak to 16 consecutive coaches’ polls, the Conference’s longest active streak.

• Going back to Week Five of last season, BYU has now been ranked in 14 consecutive US LBM Coaches Polls.

• Texas Tech, the 24th-ranked team in the preseason coaches poll, is back in the preseason poll for the second time in three years, matching its ranking from 2023.

The Big 12 will kick off its 30th season of football with a trio of teams competing in Week 0. Iowa State and Kansas State will face off in a Conference game in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 23 on ESPN. Kansas will host Fresno State in the first game in newly-renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium at 5:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 23 on FOX.

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August 3rd

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Big 12 Opening Lines: CU still a 4.0-point underdog at home to Georgia Tech

… Over half of the Big 12 conference teams have games against FCS teams in Week One (no betting lines). Other than the Big 12 opener between Iowa State and Kansas State, the only other Big 12 conference teams to take on Power Four opponents in Week One are Cincinnati (Nebraska), Colorado (Georgia Tech), Baylor (Auburn), Utah (UCLA) and TCU (North Carolina) … 

Saturday, August 23rd (Week Zero)

• Kansas State vs Iowa State – (in Dublin, Ireland) … 10:00 a.m., MT, ESPN … Kansas State is a 3.5-point favorite (O/U 49.5)
• Fresno State at Kansas … 4:30 p.m., MT, Fox … Kansas is a 14.0-point favorite (O/U 51.5)

Thursday, August 29th

• Jacksonville State at UCF … 5:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … UCF is a 16.5 favorite (O/U 53.5)
• UT-Martin at Oklahoma State … 5:30 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … no line
• Stephen F. Austin at Houston … 6:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … no line
• Nebraska vs Cincinnati – (in Kansas City, MO) … 7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN … Cincinnati is a 6.5 underdog (O/U 52.5)

Friday, August 29th

• Wagner at Kansas … 5:30 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … no line
• Auburn at Baylor … 6:00 p.m., MT, Fox … Baylor is a 1.5-point favorite (O/U 57.5)
• Georgia Tech at Colorado …6:00 p.m., MT, ESPN … Colorado is a 4.0-point underdog  (O/U 55.5)

Saturday, August 30th

• Robert Morris at West Virginia … 12:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … no line
• South Dakota at Iowa State … 1:30 p.m., MT, Fox … no line
• North Dakota at Kansas State … 5:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … no line
• Arkansas Pine-Bluff at Texas Tech … 5:30 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … no line
• Portland State at BYU … 6:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … no line
• Northern Arizona at Arizona State … 8:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … no line
• Hawaii at Arizona … 8:30 p.m., MT, TNT … Arizona is a 13.5-point favorite (O/U 55.5)
• Utah at UCLA … 9:00 p.m., MT, Fox … Utah is a 6.5-point favorite (O/U 50.5)

Monday, September 1st

• TCU at North Carolina … 6:00 p.m., MT, ESPN … TCU is a 3.0-point favorite (O/U 59.5)

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August 2nd

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Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell gets a pay raise; sets aside funds for assistants and revenue sharing

From CBS Sports … Three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year Matt Campbell is locked in with Iowa State. The school finalized a contract extension with the winningest coach in program history, keeping him on board through the 2032 season, ESPN’s Max Olson reports. Campbell will make $5 million per year and reportedly agreed to take a discount on his new deal to pave the way for an increased assistant salary pool and to allow Iowa State to set aside an additional $1 million in revenue sharing money.

According to USA Today’s coach salary database, the $5 million figure would have made Campbell the 42nd-highest paid coach in college football last season, tied with ex-North Carolina coach Mack Brown. It is a substantial bump from the $4 million Campbell made last year, which ranked 53rd nationally.

The extension and pay raise is a timely one. It capitalizes on the success Campbell delivered last fall in what was by far the best season in Iowa State history. The 11 wins marked the first time the Cyclones ever cracked the double-digit win mark, they returned to the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time since 2020 and their No. 15 ranking in the final AP Top 25 was their second-highest finish to date.

Campbell has been a reported candidate for numerous jobs throughout his Iowa State career but each time stayed with his program in Ames. Most recently, he drew interest from the Chicago Bears this offseason before the franchise hired Ben Johnson.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 1st

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ESPN: Only two teams have as much as a ten percent chance to make the College Football Playoff

From ESPN …The 12-team College Football Playoff will again include the five highest-ranked conference champions — a guarantee that expands the pool of candidates to include any team that has a shot at winning its conference.

According to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, there are 32 teams — the most in the CFP era — with at least a 10% chance of reaching the playoff. They come from the Power 4 conferences, the American and the Mountain West, but how many of them can actually win the national title?

“Four or five,” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said.

“I’d say there’s eight,” Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer said.

This list will shrink by November, but below it starts with 32 teams ranked in order of their percentage chance to make the playoff. You’ll also see their chance to win the national title, according to the Allstate Playoff Predictor.

The CFP selection committee doesn’t always agree with the computers, though. Here’s a look at how they will view the 32 teams with at least a 10% chance to make the playoff.

From the Big 12 … 

17. Kansas State Wildcats

Last year: 9-4
ESPN BET odds to win national title: +15000
CFP ranking history: 24 appearances, highest at No. 7

ESPN Analytics
Make playoff: 22.2% | Win national title: .4%

Agree or disagree with ESPN Analytics: Agree. The reality is the Big 12 is once again the most wide-open race in the FBS, but with quarterback Avery Johnson returning for his second season as the starter, expectations are high. According to ESPN’s FPI, K-State has a 19.9% chance to win the Big 12, a slight edge over defending champ Arizona State (13%). It’s not impossible for the Big 12 to get two playoff teams in, but the most likely scenario for the second team is as the league runner-up in a close loss — similar to what happened with SMU last year in the ACC.

Toughest test: Oct. 25 at Kansas. An in-state rival on the road during the heart of the season will have implications on the Big 12 standings and, in turn, the CFP race. ESPN’s FPI gives K-State a 52.1% chance to win. The Wildcats escaped with a two-point win last year.

What the committee will like: A season-opening win against Iowa State in Dublin. The Cyclones are capable of winning the Big 12, and if K-State can knock them off in the season opener, it could help alleviate the blow of a loss in the Big 12 title game if they meet again. K-State would be able to claim a regular-season win against the conference champs. That’s a résumé booster that has helped teams before in the committee meeting room.

What the committee won’t like: No statement wins. If K-State doesn’t beat Iowa State, it might not have a win against a ranked team on its résumé. The Wildcats don’t face Arizona State or BYU during the regular season. Texas Tech could play its way into the top 25 and even make a run at the Big 12 title, and Kansas could as well, but there’s no headliner in the lineup to help separate K-State from another comparable contender.

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24. Arizona State Sun Devils

Last year: 11-3, CFP quarterfinal
ESPN BET odds to win national title: +15000
CFP ranking history: 10 appearances, highest at No. 6

ESPN Analytics
Make playoff: 16.1% | Win national title: .2%

Agree or disagree with ESPN Analytics: Disagree. Where’s the computer love for the defending Big 12 champs?! The Sun Devils return 79% of last year’s production, according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly. This is a team that should start the season on the bubble of the bracket — not the top 25. Quarterback Sam Leavitt and receiver Jordyn Tyson are potential first-round NFL draft picks, and 10 starters return from a defense that led the league in run defense (112.9 yards) and was No. 3 in scoring defense (22.6 points).

Toughest test: Nov. 1 at Iowa State. Ames is a notoriously tricky place to win, and this game will be important for both Big 12 and CFP standings. Last year, ASU beat Iowa State 45-10 to win the Big 12 title and earn the league’s lone CFP spot.

What the committee will like: A Big 12 title. It’s going to be difficult (again) for the Big 12 runner-up to secure a second CFP spot unless it’s a lights-out, no-brainer pick, and it’s going to be difficult for ASU to prove that with the nation’s No. 73 schedule strength — especially when so many SEC teams’ schedules are ranked among the top 15. Arizona State will have some opponents sneak into the CFP top 25, and the committee respects wins against good teams — even if they’re not ranked — but it will also give the edge to contenders that have better statement wins against a more rigorous schedule.

What the committee won’t like: A loss to Mississippi State. Don’t let the SEC label fool you. ASU beat the 2-10 Bulldogs last year and should do it again if it’s a true playoff team. A loss would mean no Power 4 nonconference wins, as the rest of the schedule includes Northern Arizona and Texas State. There’s also upset potential at Baylor to end September, and that would be a devastating start for a program aiming for history.

… Read full story here …

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College Sports Commission (NCAA) already backing down on NIL restrictions

… “Will wealthy teams and their boosters be able to game the system designed to create competitive balance?” (Hint: “Yes”) … 

From ESPN … The College Sports Commission has loosened its blanket prohibition on athletes receiving payments from NIL collectives, according to a memo the new enforcement agency sent to athletic directors Thursday morning.

The collectives, an evolving industry built to funnel money to athletes at a particular school, will still face significantly more scrutiny when trying to sign deals with players than they had in past years.

Thursday’s memo from the CSC, which revises guidance it issued three weeks ago, ends the first notable scuffle under the industry’s new enforcement structure without needing to return to a courtroom. However, it provides more of a punt than a definitive answer to an essential question for the future of how major college sports will function: Will wealthy teams and their boosters be able to game the system designed to create competitive balance?

The new rules say athletes and collectives will have to show that each deal they sign requires the athlete to promote a product or service that is being sold to make a profit rather than just being a vehicle to channel money from boosters to athletes. Collectives might need to show documentation of “the entity’s effort to profit from the deal,” according to the memo.

College athletes can now make money in two ways: via direct payments from their school and through endorsement contracts with third parties. As part of a landmark legal agreement known as the House settlement, which was finalized in June, lawyers for the athletes and the schools agreed to put a cap on direct payments starting at $20.5 million per school in the coming academic year.

During the previous four years, when only NIL payments were permitted, a cottage industry of collectives evolved to provide their teams with a de facto payroll. Many of those groups gathered money from fans and wealthy boosters to give to athletes in exchange for some minimal endorsement. Some collectives also acted as marketing agencies — pairing athletes with local companies for endorsements — or launched subscription-based businesses to help fans connect with the players on their favorite team.

In an effort to keep teams from using their collectives to circumvent the $20.5 million spending cap, the terms of the House settlement state that all deals with “associated entities” (essentially collectives and boosters) have to be for a “valid business purpose” and fall within a reasonable range of compensation. A $1 million deal for a player to make a few social media posts, for example, won’t be allowed.

“Pay-for-play will not be permitted, and every NIL deal done with a student-athlete must be a legitimate deal, not pay-for-play in disguise,” CSC CEO Bryan Seeley said Thursday.

The CSC is a new organization in charge of vetting all third-party deals to make sure they comply with the terms of the settlement. The conferences and CSC are using a platform called NIL Go, operated by Deloitte, to vet those third-party deals. The new guidelines mean that each deal will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with subjective analysis rather than running them through an algorithm, which will likely require more manpower than the fledgling enforcement group with only three employees thus far initially planned.

The CSC issued its initial ban on collectives July 10, less than two weeks after opening its doors. Several collectives told ESPN they felt the ban painted with too broad of a brush and unfairly outlawed their industry.

… Continue reading story here …

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This post, about the Fall Camp game, from the 2025 Season, is filed under Article.
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