December 8, 2025
Tennessee has fired fifth-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks, according to On3Sports. The 53-year-old has served as Tennessee's defensive play-caller since Heupel took over in Knoxville in 2021, and outside of the 2024 campaign, the results have been negative. After boasting one of the best defenses in the country last season, the Vols ranked 14th in yards per game allowed (395.3), 15th in passing yards allowed per game (248.6), and 14th in points per game allowed (28.8) in the SEC in 2025. Tennessee remained a high-powered offense this season under Heupel and transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar, but the defense allowed at least 33 points in seven of its eight conference games. This is the first assistant coach Heupel has fired in his head-coaching career, and the search is on for a new defensive play-caller ahead of the 2026 season.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: On3 on X
December 8, 2025
University of Texas running back CJ Baxter intends to enter the transfer portal, ESPN's Pete Thamel reports. The former five-star recruit and No. 1 running back prospect in the Class of 2023 earned Big 12 offensive newcomer of the year as a freshman in 2023 after rushing 138 times for 659 yards and five touchdowns and catching 24 passes for 154 yards. He missed his entire sophomore season after suffering a knee injury in the preseason before returning in 2025 to handle 66 total touches for 237 yards and one score. Baxter oozes talent, but he never seemed to get back into the flow of things as a redshirt sophomore after a long-term injury. There should be no shortage of interest in his services on the open market.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Pete Thamel - ESPN
December 7, 2025
Following Kansas State and Iowa State opting out of bowl games as they break in new coaches, Mississippi State and Rice, who both have 5-7 records, have accepted bowl bids. Rice will face Texas State in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Jan 2, while Mississippi State will square off with Wake Forest in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Jan 2. The Owls are under first-year head coach Scott Abell, and the Bulldogs are under second-year head coach Jeff Lebby. The bowl game berth will give both programs extra practice time and invaluable reps for their young quarterbacks, Chase Jenkins and Kamario Taylor.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
December 7, 2025
According to On3's Brett McMurphy, at least seven 5-7 teams have declined bowl bids, including Florida State, Auburn, UCF, Baylor, Rutgers, Temple, and Kansas. Usually, teams have to win six games to qualify for a bowl, but Notre Dame, Kansas State, and Iowa State have all opted out of bowl games, and the search is on to find an opponent for Georgia Southern in the Birmingham Bowl. 5-7 teams, Mississippi State and Rice, have accepted bowl berths, but the bowl system is one team short. Many 5-7 programs believed their season was over at the end of Week 14, so players are scattered, and many programs have moved on to the first phase of the offseason in preparation for the 2026 campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Brett McMurphy - On3Sports
December 7, 2025
Nebraska is hiring San Diego State defensive coordinator Rob Aurich to the same role in Lincoln, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. Head coach Matt Rhule relieved John Butler of his duties after the team surrendered 77 points over its final two games against Penn State and Iowa, and it didn't take long for him to find a new defensive play-caller. Aurich led San Diego State to the No. 5 points per game (12.6) defense this season, and the Aztecs held seven of their opponents to seven points or fewer. He spent the last three seasons on San Diego State's staff following a stint with the Idaho Vandals, which ranked No. 15 in the FCS in total defense (306.3 YPG) in 2023. He'll now be tasked with leading the Cornhuskers' stop-unit, which will square off with Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, and Indiana in 2026.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Pete Thamel - ESPN
December 7, 2025
Notre Dame has withdrawn itself from bowl-game consideration following its exclusion from the 12-team College Football Playoff, the program announced on X. The Irish were the last team out of the field after the CFP Committee moved Miami ahead of Notre Dame on Selection Sunday, despite neither team playing a game since the last rankings reveal, which had Notre Dame two spots ahead of the Hurricanes. There was going to be controversy no matter what, and this measure could lead to more playoff expansion talks this offseason. Notre Dame began the season 0-2 with two losses by a combined four points against Miami and Texas A&M before ripping off 10 straight wins (all by double digits).
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Notre Dame Football on X
December 7, 2025
According to On3.com, TCU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles could be the top candidate for South Carolina's vacant offensive coordinator job. The Gamecocks' offense mightily disappointed under Mike Shula following the departure of Dowell Loggains in 2025. Among 16 SEC teams, South Carolina ranked 15th in total yards per game (336.3) and rushing yards per game (111.1), and 14th in points per game (22.7), despite having preseason Heisman-hopeful LaNorris Sellers under center. Briles, the 43-year-old son of Art Briles, has been an offensive coordinator since 2015, including stops at Baylor, Florida Atlantic, Houston, Florida State, Arkansas, and TCU. The Horned Frogs ranked fourth in the Big 12 in total offense (425.3 YPG) and seventh in points per game (30.8). It remains to be seen if Sellers will stay in Columbia, but Briles would be a significant upgrade for South Carolina if it lands their desired candidate.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: On3.com
December 7, 2025
The James Madison Dukes are in a great position to make the 12-team College Football Playoff following the Duke Blue Devils' win over Virginia in Saturday Night's ACC Championship game. Under the current format, the five highest-ranked conference champions automatically qualify for the College Football Playoff. Duke won the ACC with an 8-5 record and is unlikely to enter the CFP Committee's rankings, while No. 25 James Madison won the Sun Belt Championship on Friday after beating Troy 31-14. Under second-year head coach Bob Chesney, who is leaving for UCLA when the season ends, James Madison has compiled a 12-1 record, with its only loss coming in Week 2 against Louisville. James Madison could be looking at a CFP berth and first-round road playoff game in just its fourth season in the FBS.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
December 7, 2025
Following Conference Championship Saturday, it appears that the College Football Playoff committee will be deciding between two of Notre Dame, Miami, and Alabama as the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds in the College Football Playoff. Indiana, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas Tech, Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Tulane are locks for the field, while James Madison will almost certainly be in the dance as the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion after Duke beat Virginia in the ACC Championship. Alabama suffered a 21-point blowout loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game to drop to 10-3, and it could be punished for the lopsided loss. The Committee has had Notre Dame ranked ahead of Miami for weeks, despite the Canes' head-to-head win over the Irish in Week 1, so Notre Dame seems like the safest bet to make the field, potentially forcing the Committee to decide between Alabama and Miami. All three teams on the CFP bubble have a strong argument for making the 12-team field, but there are only enough spots for two of them under the current format. No matter what is decided, there is sure to be controversy on Selection Sunday.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
December 7, 2025
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS, new Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin is targeting Brent Pry for the vacant defensive coordinator role. This is an interesting development since Pry was fired as Virginia Tech's head coach after a 0-3 start to the 2025 campaign. Pry worked as Franklin's defensive coordinator at Penn State for six seasons, and he was on Franklin's staff from 2011 to 2021, dating back to their time together at Vanderbilt. Pry is an excellent defensive coordinator, but his head-coaching career ended with a 16-24 record at Virginia Tech.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Matt Zenitz - CBS
December 5, 2025
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson is forgoing the rest of his collegiate eligibility to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Johnson was one of the lone bright spots in the Cornhuskers' disappointing season, rushing 251 times for 1,451 yards (third most nationally) and 12 touchdowns. He also hauled in 46 passes for 370 yards and three more scores. With 92 career receptions in three seasons at Nebraska, he should draw the interest of plenty of NFL teams, thanks to his do-it-all skill set. Nebraska will have to replace his elite production in 2026.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Pete Nakos - On3Sports
December 5, 2025
Alabama running back Jam Miller (lower leg) is likely to miss Saturday's SEC Championship Game against Georgia, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. Miller was banged up in the Tide's win over Auburn last week and was seen walking off the field on crutches. In nine games this season, Miller has rushed 123 times for 439 yards and three scores. In his potential absence, the 244-pound Daniel Hill is likely to see the bulk of the workload in the Alabama backfield. It's been a struggle for Alabama to run the ball all season, but finding a way to at least present the threat of rushing will be key against Kirby Smart and the improving Bulldogs' defense. Miller is expected to be available for the postseason, should Alabama qualify for the College Football Playoff.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Pete Thamel - ESPN
December 5, 2025
Penn State is finalizing a deal with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell to become its head coach, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. This has been a long coaching search for the Nittany Lions, who reportedly struck out on several candidates before turning their attention to the 46-year-old Campbell. Campbell began his head-coaching career in 2012 with the Toledo Rockets, where he won 35 games in four years, capped off by two seasons of nine wins in 2014 and 2015. He's been excellent since taking the Cyclones job in 2016, compiling a 72-55 record, including five seasons of at least eight wins. Penn State fired longtime head coach James Franklin early in the 2025 campaign after three straight losses, and its recruiting class has fallen apart with no permanent head coach in the building. Campbell will be tasked with calming the storm in State College.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Pete Thamel - ESPN
December 5, 2025
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS, Arkansas is targeting Ron Roberts for its vacant defensive coordinator role. Roberts spent last season as Florida's defensive coordinator and has spent time in that role for Auburn and Baylor. The Razorbacks had the worst defense in the SEC during the 2025 regular season, ranking last in the conference in yards per game allowed (425.2) and points per game (33.8). Arkansas' offense was strong enough to win several conference games, but its defense was its Achilles heel, which led to the firing of head coach Sam Pittman. New Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield will presumably have a big role on offense, and nailing the hire at defensive coordinator will be key.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Matt Zenitz - CBS
December 4, 2025
Penn State fired coach James Franklin on October 12 after a third straight loss. The school is still looking for a new coach. While places like LSU, Florida, and Auburn have all found their next coaches, the Nittany Lions have struck out. Penn State was also in communication with Indiana's Curt Cignetti, Nebraska's Matt Rhule, Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz, and BYU's Kilani Sitake. All four coaches signed extensions to stay put. Iowa State's Matt Campbell is the latest name to be courted by Penn State. Campbell was the head coach of Toledo from 2012-15 and has been the head man at Iowa State since 2016. Campbell's 72 wins at Iowa State are a school record. Penn State's offer is rumored to be 6 years, $63 million. Will Penn State finally get its man, or will it just result in another substantial raise for a sitting coach?
--Mike Marteny - RotoBallerSource: On3 Sports
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